Cameron Boxall jailed for electric scooter robbery in Brighton

Cameron Boxall, 18, saw Callum Marten riding in London Road, Brighton, while he was driving.

The defendant was banned from driving over his previous record of stealing cars, and tried to intimidate the victim by revving the engine of a Ford Focus and overtaking.

Boxall got out of the car and demanded that Mr Marten hand over the scooter.

But at first Mr Marten struck Boxall to the floor, at which point the thug called to his pal in the car to give him a knife.

After a chase, Boxall snatched the scooter and drove off, leaving Mr Marten shaken.

But a member of the public clocked the registration plates and Boxall was swiftly arrested.

At Lewes Crown Court he admitted robbery, possessing a bladed article in public, and handling stolen goods from a domestic burglary.

He was jailed for three years for the crimes.

Lewes Crown Court

Her Honour Judge Janet Waddicor said Boxall grew up in a notorious family where committing crime was seen as the norm, and said if she could have had a bet when Boxall was a baby, she would have put money on him ending up as a criminal.

James Oliveira-Agnew, prosecuting, said the robbery happened at 10am in London Road on March 21 this year.

He said: “The defendant got out and approached the victim and said ‘give it to me’.

“An altercation took place, and the defendant called to the passenger in the car to ‘get the knife’.

London Road, Brighton

“An altercation took place, and the defendant called to the passenger in the car to ‘get the knife’.

“The victim was very shaken and was obviously very disturbed to be the subject of a knife robbery in the street.”

The judge said the cards had been stacked against Boxall from birth, and Sarah Thorne, defending, said her client will have to learn to deal himself a new deck.

She said Boxall has been “pushed from pillar to post” in the care system over the years and said: “He is trying to understand how his behaviour impacts on others

“Hopefully with the right support he can pull himself out of the difficulties he has had.”

Judge Waddicor said: “It is difficult to know where to start with you. If I had read a profile about you as a baby or toddler, starting school in Moulsecoomb, and was allowed to put money on a bet, I would have put money on you ending up in the criminal justice system.

“You grew up in a family well known to the authorities for criminal activity. I have no doubt as you grew up that was normal, that was what people did.

“You had a bad start as a young child, you were not surrounded by relatives encouraging you to achieve things and there was a stage where you were in care.

Cameron Boxall jailed for Brighton robbery

“You learned to live on your wits and live for kicks. Driving cars when you were not supposed to, driving dangerously and committing crimes.

“In March this year you robbed a young man of his electric scooter. It was vicious.

"He punched you to the floor, and you called to your friend to give you a knife. This left him in fear. You are someone with form for having a knife.

"He punched you to the floor, and you called to your friend to give you a knife. This left him in fear. You are someone with form for having a knife.

"At the time you were subject to various community detentions and orders.

"You are effectively someone who puts two fingers up to the system. I can understand why, the system so far has not done you any favours.

"But it is not about feeling sorry for you, it’s about the impact it has. At some stage you need to sit down and understand how you came to be where you are today.

"You know the system, you are still a very young man. Looking at where you are going in future, it doesn’t look good. If this were a medical prognosis it would be pretty bleak. You are likely to be a high risk of committing serious offences again in future.

"In custody I hope you will have time to think about the consequences of your actions. You don’t have to lead a life of crime. You can do something about it. There are people who can help you in many ways."

Boxall, formerly of Coleridge Street, Hove, was previously given youth detention orders in October last year for aggravated vehicle taking.

He is now behind bars serving a prison sentence.