Published: Tuesday, 2nd September, 2008 08:00
Teen punches man in face as he protects his bike
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A VIOLENT thug has been sent to a young offenders' institute after threatening a man with a bicycle lock before hitting him in the face and stealing his bike.
Luke Higgs-Rigsby lashed out after being caught red-handed trying to steal the bike by its owner, Reading Crown Court heard on Friday.
The 19-year-old was put behind bars after admitting one count of robbery.
Jerome Silva, prosecuting, said that Simon Hawke had parked his £200 bicycle at the Kerith Centre in Church Road, Bracknell on September 19 last year.
He said: “When he went outside he saw two males and a female taking an interest in the bike.
“Mr Hawke approached and he saw Mr Higgs-Rigsby pull the bike loose from the frame.
“Mr Hawke grabbed hold of the handle bars to stop him taking the bike but the defendant continued to struggle to break loose.
“Then he threatened to hit the victim with a bike lock.
“The struggle continued and at this stage he punched Mr Hawke with his right hand to his right cheek.”
The court heard that Mr Hawke let go of his bike and the defendant and his two friends raced off.
Mr Silva said the Higgs-Rigsby, formerly of Mount Lane, Bracknell, was seen on CCTV and arrested by police the same day in Bracknell town centre.
He said that at the time of the offence the defendant had just been released from 21 days in a Young Offenders’ Institute for a charge of criminal damage.
The defendant initially denied the charge of robbery and only changed his plea on July , as his trial was about to begin.
Tom Bradford, defending, said that his client had suffered from ADHD since his youth and his recent brush with the law had come about after he lost his job as a plasterer and labourer.
“This was not a premeditated robbery,” he said.
“This was not a robbery that involved the use of a weapon.
“Like so many young men he did not intentionally bring a knife with the intention of using it.”
Higgs-Rigsby, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to two years in a Young Offenders’ Institute which he will serve consecutively to the 15 months he was already serving.
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