Teen robber kicked victim ‘like a football’

Jun 26 2009 By Huddersfield Examiner

A TEENAGE mugger who carried out a second street robbery just two days after being given bail by a youth court in Huddersfield has been locked up for four years.

Drunken 16-year-old Clive Martindale was still wearing his electronic tag when he and his accomplice attacked 45-year-old Richard Crowther after he left a pub at Bradford Road near Fartown.

At the time of the mugging in April, Martindale, of Back Beech Terrace, Fartown, was already facing charges of robbery and house burglary.

Prosecutor Ewan McLachlan said the teenager had initially been remanded in custody following the earlier incidents in March, but on April 9 he was granted bail with conditions of residence and an electronically-monitored curfew between 8pm and 7am.

Mr McLachlan told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that two days after being released on bail, Mr Crowther was attacked by Martindale and another man.

Both men were wearing their hoods up when the robbery took place at about 9.30pm.

Mr McLachlan said the victim had reached the central reservation of the dual carriageway when he was grabbed by the arms by both men and thrown to the ground.

The terrified victim, who feared he might be stabbed or severely injured, was pinned down while his pockets were rifled and the duo stole various property, including a mobile phone, some cash and even a takeaway meal that Mr Crowther had just bought.

"Having taken the property the two men then kicked him in the head,’’ said Mr McLachlan.

"In his words, his head was treated like a football. He was kicked in the head five or six times.’’

The court heard that passing police officers went to Mr Crowther’s assistance and after a chase Martindale was detained and some of the victim’s property was recovered.

Mr Crowther suffered unpleasant lumps and bruises to his head, felt queasy and his vision was blurred.