Two brothers told a schoolboy they had a shotgun so they could steal his bike.
Jack Williams, 24, and Michael Williams, 34, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Thursday (February 2) to be sentenced for robbery. Prosecuting, Michael Scholes told the court that around 7pm on March 2, 2021, a 15-year-old boy was cycling home along Hard Lane in St Helens when he saw the two defendants approach him.
Jack Williams was on foot and Michael Williams was on a scooter. The younger brother said to his brother: "Can I have that? Can't be a**** running anymore". One of the defendants shouted and they caught up with the victim.
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The bike was grabbed from the schoolboy and he was made to feel threatened. Jack Williams claimed the bike had been stolen from his nephew and the brothers wanted to take it back.
Michael Williams told the boy they "had a shotty", referring to a shotgun. Jack Williams managed to pull the bike free.
They then searched the boy and wanted to take his phone from him, but he told them it had pictures of his dead dad on it. This was not true, but it meant the brothers left without taking his phone.
The defendants, both of Wokefield Way, Eccleston, then made off from the scene with the bike. The victim saw that one of the brothers was carrying a bag, which extended to his legs and looked like it held a shotgun.
Mr Scholes said the victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, still feels the effects of the robbery and his studies have been negatively affected. He said the boy "doesn't want to go out, has lost confidence and wants to move out of the area".
In mitigation, Zahra Baqri said Jack Williams, who is the dad of a two-year-old, accepted his actions caused fear. She added he was intoxicated on the night of the robbery.
Jack Williams claimed he thought the bike was his family's property and said he was encouraged by his older brother. He was remanded on August 10, 2022. and pleaded guilty on December 12.
Michael Williams' barrister Ms Campbell said her client, who is a dad of four, did not take a leading role in the incident and tried to stop his brother. She added that Michael Williams did not know the victim was a 15-year-old boy and became "ashamed" of what he had done.
Michael Williams, who has 10 previous convictions for 12 offences, pleaded not guilty to the offence. He was convicted by a jury.
Sentencing, Judge Trevor Jones said the victim was "simply minding his own business". He told Jack Williams "you grabbed his bike" and added "Michael Williams referred to having a shotgun", which was "designed to intimidate him".
The judge said the victim's "confidence has been shattered, he has become withdrawn." However, the judge did mention the victim had managed to "dupe" the brothers with his claim about his phone.
Judge Jones jailed Michael Williams to three years and approved a restraining order. Jack Williams was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment for the offence.
On Thursday, Jack Williams was also sentenced to nine years and 10 months in prison for a number of offences committed in relation to a female victim. He was jailed for 11 years and two months in total.
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