Delivery driver the target of robbery in St Helens

Liverpool Crown Court heard that the offence took place on Pollitt Crescent, in Clock Face, in the early hours of March 23 this year.

The court heard that Luke Jones, 29, approached the victim’s car and asked him for the time before holding a knife to the victim’s throat as he ordered him to get out of his vehicle and to give him his phone.  

Jones and co-defendant Callum Jaxon, 28, were arrested after being seen in the stolen Fiat Punto in Warrington town centre the following afternoon.

Jones, who had pleaded guilty to robbery shortly before a trial was due to take place appeared in the dock for sentencing on Wednesday afternoon, while Jaxon, who admitted theft, appeared via video link.

During the hearing, prosecuting barrister, Simon Mintz, set out the circumstances of the robbery.

He said: “The victim of the robbery was a takeaway delivery driver. He drove to Pollitt Crescent in his orange Fiat Punto at around 2am on a fast food delivery.

“As he got out of his car he noticed two men who were walking past. One of them shouted ‘hi’ from across the road.

“Once he made his delivery he returned to his car and got back into the driver’s seat and closed the door but before he had the chance to start the engine he heard a tap on the driver’s window and standing outside was Jones.

“He was wearing dark clothing and a baseball cap that concealed most of his face."

Mr Mintz said that Jones asked for the time and after he responded then “held a knife centimetres from the victim’s throat saying ‘get out of the f****** car”.

Mr Mintz said that as the victim got out, Jones said “give me your phone” which the “frightened” victim threw over.

Mr Mintz added: “Out of the car (the victim) noticed the other man (Jaxon) standing on the other side of the road. He was walking but didn’t appear to play any actual part in the robbery itself.

“He was also wearing dark clothes and dark baseball hat. Jones shouted to Jaxon ‘get in the car’ before Jones drove away leaving the victim on the pavement without his car or his phone.”

Mr Mintz said that police “identified the solen car” at around 1pm, 11 hours later, in Warrington, being driven by Jaxon with Jones the passenger, and “followed them into the town centre”.

Mr Mintz said as “officers went to arrest the defendants Jaxon was seen to dump a mobile phone that had been stolen” and he was “carrying the car key since he had been driving”.

He said “one of the officers who arrested Jaxon heard him shout to Jones ‘say no comment’.”

In a police interview Jones “denied any participation” in the robbery saying he had been in a “tent” he had been living in, and Jaxon gave a “no comment” interview.

Mr Mintz said that while the victim failed to identify Jones in an identity parade, “movements of both defendants’ mobile phones” were “linked to the location of the robbery” and tracked them to Jaxon’s Orford home and to Warrington town centre.

Liverpool Crown Court

The court heard Jones had 20 convictions for 52 previous offences, including for theft and burglary offences.

Jaxon had 13 previous convictions for 34 previous offences, including theft, arson and threatening behaviour.

Mr Mintz read a victim personal statement to the court which outlined the effect of the robbery on him.

In it the victim described how it caused his wife such anxiety she “accompanied him” on  deliveries and “he described the robbery having contributed to the decision to leave the UK and return to their home in Romania.”

It was said the robbery made him “hyper-vigilant” and anxious at work” and this can be “triggered by a sudden noise”.

It was said the Fiat was damaged during the robbery and it “wasn’t economical to repair” and he had to pay £950 for a replacement car and £150 to retrieve the Fiat from where police had it in storage.

Luke Jones carried out the robbery (Image: Merseyside Police)

Passing sentence, judge David Potter said: “It is clear to the courts that delivery drivers do operate in hazardous working conditions delivering food in the dead of night and early hours of the morning”.

He said the case was one which had the “highest” level of culpability due to “producing and threatening a bladed article towards the victim.”

The judge added the offences are “aggravated” by both defendants’ “previous convictions” and the robbery had a “detrimental effect on (the victim’s) business”.

Callum Jaxon (Image: Merseyside Police)

Judge Potter said: “I accept that this was an opportunist offence rather than planned although you (Jones) were possessing a knife”.

He added “the circumstances are so serious” that “the only appropriate sentence” is custodial.

He sentenced Jones, of Riding Close, Clock Face, to five years and seven months for the robbery, saying it would have been seven years had there been a trial.

Meanwhile, Jaxon, of Marron Avenue, Orford, Warrington, was given nine months, reduced from 12 months if there had been a trial.  

Defending Jones, Chris Stables said his client had a “very difficult and disrupted childhood” and had “problems with both alcohol and drugs” adding “life hasn’t been plain sailing”.

Defending Jaxon, Stuart Mills said his client had a “very difficult childhood” and had “turned to acquisitive offending that “led to “drug and alcohol misuse”.

He added: “It’s obvious there needs to be something to break the cycle” and said in a latter to the court Jaxon said this had been a “big wake up call” for him.