THREE MEN SENTENCED FOLLOWING INCIDENTS IN HEMEL HEMPSTEAD


THREE men have been sentenced at St Albans Crown Court following two incidents in Hemel Hempstead in June last year.

David Hatton, aged 24, from London Road in Hemel Hempstead was sentenced today (March 2) after pleading guilty to a robbery, perverting the course of justice and failing to appear at court.

Khalid Moustahy, aged 18, from Belswains Lane in Hemel Hempstead was convicted on December 2 after pleading guilty to a robbery and an ABH.
A 16-year-old boy from Hemel Hempstead was convicted on December 2 after pleading guilty to handling stolen goods.
Between 11.45pm on Tuesday June 16 and 12.30am on Wednesday June 17 a man in his 20s from Hemel Hempstead was walking over the footbridge between Sainsbury's and Ebberns Road. He was followed half way across the bridge by Moustahy and the 16-year-old boy.
Moustahy set upon the victim in an unprovoked attack and the man was knocked to the ground.
The victim received minor injuries.
Later that morning, on London Road at about 2.45pm, Hatton, Moustahy and the 16-year-old boy approached a man in his 20s from Watford. Hatton and Moustahy demanded the man hand over his phone and wallet.
During the incident they grabbed the victim by his shirt, but he was uninjured. They then took his phone, returning the wallet as it contained no money, before chasing the victim down the road.
Hatton later phoned police to say he had also been a victim of a robbery along the same road, in order to cover his tracks. He was prosecuted for perverting the course of justice for this offence.
Hatton was given a 6-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. This was 6 months for robbery and two months for perverting the course of justice, to run concurrently. He has already served three months for failing to appear at court in December.
Moustahy was given a six-month sentence suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid community work. He was also told to pay £600 in compensation to the two victims of the offences. He was sentenced on Wednesday January 6.
The 16-year-old was given an eight-month supervision order and a curfew for two months. He was sentenced on Wednesday January 6.
Detective Sergeant Sam Khanna said: “These sentences send a strong message that robberies of any kind will not be tolerated in Hemel Hempstead or indeed anywhere in Hertfordshire.
“Although fortunately the victims were not seriously injured, the incidents were undoubtedly distressing for both of them and would have impacted them both deeply.
“These were nasty petty offences, further compounded by Hatton who thought he could pull the wool over detectives' eyes by pretending he was a victim to cover up his part in the crimes.
“I hope any would-be robber or even someone who gets caught up in any offence of this kind will first consider the implications of their actions and that, if caught, they will be dealt with severely.”

March 2010