Teenager armed with potato peeler threatened to stab men while riding bicycle with no tires

A hooded teenager who robbed a man at potato peeler-point has been jailed for three-and-a-half years. Black-clad Connor Berry, 18, got off a mountain bike with no tires and menaced two men with his mouth covered and his hood up. The street raider held a potato peeler to a man’s side and demanded: “Give us your money or I’m going to stab you.” Berry and two younger boys aged 15 and 16 accosted two friends heading home from playing football in Stockton north east England. The first victim was “patted down” and jabbed with the potato peeler when he could only hand over £2, Teesside Crown Court heard on Thursday. He was punched to the head by the 15-year-old when he said he would not hand over his phone, said prosecutor Jenny Haigh. Berry rifled through his pockets and took the phone, the court was told. The second man was pushed, his pockets searched and his phone and £5 taken. He was told by Berry to go away “before I stab you”. Both of the victims ran off and later said they were left nervous, scared and reluctant to go out.
“This has ruined my life,” said one of the men in a statement. “I’m petrified to go out on my own." Berry and the two younger boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, all from Stockton, admitted two counts of robbery. Berry also admitted possession of a bladed article. He had six previous offenses including burglary though none for violence. Alex Bousfield, defending Berry, said he showed a concerning amount of bravado. He said Berry “seems to talk the situation up”, claiming he held a potato peeler to the victim’s neck. Berry described himself as schizophrenic - though he has not been diagnosed and would not be assessed or take medication.
And he showed “paranoid thoughts” that he needed to possess a weapon for protection. “He’s been found in possession of a weapon in prison,” added Mr Bousfield, suggesting Berry could become institutionalized. Judge Simon Bourne-Arton QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, told Berry: “You are clearly a disturbed young man. You had a knife. There was a group of you who attacked both men. You were disguised. They were terrified.” Berry was locked up for three-and-a-half years - his first custodial sentence. Each of the younger boys was given a one-year intensive referral order. All three received a five-year restraining order banning them from approaching the victims.