Two men laughed after stealing an e-scooter at knifepoint from a woman who “froze in fear”.
Roberta Kirkpatrick went to the Spar shop on Newtown Road in Carlisle, just before 11pm on July 15. She entered the store and, for safety and security, left the e-scooter inside the front door close to a lottery stand. Zayd Alasaly, 20, of Corinto Street, Toxteth, and his 19-year-old accomplice Liam Bateman were also in the shop.
Prosecutor Paul Brookwell told Carlisle Crown Court: "Both had seen the scooter and showed an interest in it."
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Miss Kirkpatrick left the shop with the scooter and tried to get a cigarette out of her pocket. By that time, Alasaly and Bateman were outside on a street corner. They approached her, with Alasaly threatening her with a large kitchen knife.
Mr Brookwell said: “It was Mr Alasaly who produced a large kitchen knife from the waistband of his clothing. He said words to the effect of ‘pass it over’, referring to the scooter.
"She froze in fear. It was Mr Alasaly who took the scooter and moved away together with Mr Bateman following, who was noted to laugh at what had just happened.
"Miss Kirkpatrick was clearly distressed. She went back into the shop and she informed the lady in the shop what had just happened. She also commented that she saw the victim with tears in her eyes."
Miss Kirkpatrick went to a friend's house, who said she was "shaking, crying, visibly upset" when they spoke. Police were called and arrested the two robbers close by.
The scooter was recovered but the knife was not.
Both Alasaly and Bateman, of Warwick Square, Carlisle, admitted robbery, with Alasaly also pleading guilty to having the knife illegally in public. Alasaly committed the crimes within seven weeks of being spared an immediate prison sentence at Kingston upon Hull Crown Court for being concerned in the supply of class A substances heroin, crack cocaine and cocaine.
An 18-month custodial term was suspended for 18 months. He also had a previous conviction, dating back to 2019, for illegal possession of a knife.
This meant he triggered a mandatory minimum prison sentence of six months for repeat offending.
Peter White, defending, said: “Mr Alasaly accepts he effectively squandered that opportunity he was afforded by the court previously. He hopes to get some qualifications in a trade (while in custody) and quote simply be released with something to fall back on; and repair the relationship with his mother and be there to assist her with the younger siblings she is bringing up by herself."
The court heard Alasaly had lost accommodation at his family home due to his behaviour.
Mr White said: "He has been sofa-surfing around England, clearly involved in county lines drug-dealing at some point. He has had a small amount of alcohol and some diazepam which he states may have affected his mindset.
“On behalf of Mr Alasaly I am specifically instructed for what it’s worth — and it may seem really hollow — to offer his sincere apologies to Miss Kirkpatrick.”
Andrew Gurney, giving mitigation for Bateman, said a probation service report highlighted a traumatic upbringing. Bateman was “truly remorseful”, said Mr Gurney, who spoke of the robbery having “little or no planning”.
Alasaly was jailed for four years and Bateman for 32 months.
Passing his sentence, Judge Nicholas Barker said: "The pair of you saw her, you targeted her, you wanted that scooter. She was very distressed as one might only imagine, being threatened with a knife, having personal items stolen from her; being a female at that time of night on her own."
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