A young mum who was with her newborn baby when her car was robbed at knifepoint has said the ordeal has stripped her of her independence and left her scared to go out on her own. Lauren Mercer, 24, had been with her 10-week-old baby Leo in a GP surgery car park, Little Lever, when a teenager approached her with a machete-type blade and demanded the keys to her Seat Curpa.
She handed them over and the 17-year-old crashed into a lamp post and three other vehicles in Manchester later that evening. The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced to three years and eight months imprisonment at Bolton Crown Court on Thursday (December 1).
Speaking after the sentencing, new mum Lauren said she was 'disappointed' with his jail term and said she 'constantly thinks about' what she could've done differently before the attack. She told of how going out on her own is now a struggle and says she has been stripped of her independence.
"I have no independence anymore. I won't go out by myself, I always have to have someone with me," she told the Manchester Evening News.
"I am on maternity leave at the moment, and it has totally ruined the time with my son. I own a cleaning company, which I have worked hard at establishing for five years, but don't think I can go back to it because I often have to drive around on my own late at night.
"I keep thinking in my head if I could've done something different. What would have happened if I had just stayed in the doctors for a few more minutes or what could've happened if I didn't give him my car keys?"
The defendant, aged 17, approached Lauren, who was with her 10-week-old son at the time, in a GP surgery car park on Mytham Road in Little Lever, Bolton, on November 1. He pulled out the machete-type blade and demanded her car keys, police said.
He later crashed the vehicle on Great Western Street, hitting a lamp post and three vehicles. At the time, there were three occupants of the vehicle who all ran off.
A search of the youngsters' address resulted in the seizure of a machete, machete holster, extendable baton, black jacket, gloves, phone and car keys. He was charged with robbery, aggravated vehicle taking and possessing a bladed article in a public place.
He was also charged with drugs offences, possession of a prohibited weapon in a private place, fraud by false representation, and breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) and sentenced to three years and eight months at Bolton Crown Court.
Lauren added: "I have been speaking to victim support within the police. I keep telling myself it won't happen again, but it shouldn't have ever happened in the first place. You wouldn't think going to the doctors would leave you with such a scar."
"I don't think three years and eight months is enough at all for the crime he committed, and he might not even serve all of that. He will still be young when he gets out, with his life ahead of him. I am disappointed as I don't feel it deters criminals from doing this when they can be out in a couple of years."
Detective Sergeant Carla Deighton from the Bolton district said: “We are really pleased with the outcome of this case, which was an extremely distressing encounter for the victim. We are extremely grateful to her for coming forwards and for all the help she has given us in locating and identifying this individual.
“The Neighbourhood Priority Crime Team along with officers from B relief response in Bolton were able to quickly get him off the streets, preventing him from committing any further offences. At GMP, we are committed to protecting our communities and we take every report of robbery extremely seriously, especially when it is aggravated with a weapon.
“This type of behaviour is inexcusable and there is no reason at all why anyone should be out on the streets carrying a weapon. If you do, then you are more likely to become involved in serious assaults – it’s not worth running that risk.
“During the week-long Operation Sceptre run by GMP last week, 123 knives were recovered with 74 people arrested for knife-related offences. The intensification week also saw officers deliver 51 anti-knife sessions and engaged with thousands of pupils across Greater Manchester to help raise awareness of knife crime and the devastating impact carrying a knife can have.
“If you are worried about anyone you know who is carrying a weapon or a bladed article, then don’t hesitate to contact Greater Manchester Police on 101 or via the independent charity – Crimestoppers – on 0800 555 111, so we are able to get the weapons off the street immediately.”
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