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Three teenage robbers armed with an air pistol who targeted their victims in an early morning spree have been locked up.

The gang, all aged 19 and with no previous convictions, had been drinking and taking drugs before they picked on people walking in Brighton city centre at 6.30am.

They stole a mobile phone and £10 before being caught by police.

At Brighton Crown Court, Dane Mouland, of The Avenue, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, and Luke Wells, of Phoenix Place, Brighton, were both sentenced to three years and four months in a young offenders' institution.

Gareth Buss, of Plymouth Avenue, Brighton, received a threeyear sentence.

The court heard the robberies took place on December 29 last year. The teenagers were armed with an air pistol, which was not in a good mechanical state and could not be loaded or fired. But their frightened victims did not know the gun would not work.

Nicholas Hall, prosecuting, said their first victim, a 49-year-old man, was walking along Trafalgar Street towards Brighton railway station, when he became aware he was being followed. He crossed the road to try to avoid the teenagers but found himself surrounded by the gang.

While Mouland pointed the gun at his head, they demanded money. They then took his mobile phone and walked away.

Ten minutes later they approached a 44-year-old man in Bond Street and this time Wells held the gun. They demanded money and he handed over a £10 note. When they left their victim immediately rang the police.

Minutes later they were near the staff entrance to the Thistle Hotel, on the seafront, when they approached a duty manager on his way to work.

The gun was pointed closely at his head and they demanded his bag, which contained his laptop computer.

But the victim, who had his wedding and honeymoon photographs on the computer along with work-related data, took the chance to run.

As he fled towards the hotel, one of the gang kicked out at him but only hit his bag. He reached the staff entrance and alerted a colleague who immediately opened the door and let him in. The gang were arrested shortly afterwards in Church Street.

Mr Hall said the victims had all suffered from the robberies which had made them nervous. One man, who suffers from epilepsy, had a seizure the following day.

Martyn Williams, defending Mouland, said the teenager had taken an excessive quantity of alcohol as well as ecstasy and strong cannabis before he had committed the offences, which were out of character.

Kevin Light, defending Wells, said: "He is thoroughly ashamed of his actions and adamant this type of behaviour will never be repeated."

Richard Cherrill, defending Buss, said: "He is a truly contrite young man."

All three admitted two charges of robbery and one of attempted robbery.

Mouland and Wells also admitted possessing an imitation firearm.

Judge Cedric Joseph told the teenagers their victims must have been scared when the weapon was pointed towards them as they were not to know it could not be fired.

He said: "These courts must pass a deterrent sentence in offences as serious as this to try to ensure people who live or visit Brighton can walk the streets at 6am without being frightened in this ghastly way."

10:55am Friday 9th May 2008

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