Man threatened to stab teenagers who turned down his request for a 'rollie'
A man threatened to stab a teenager after his request for a cigarette was turned down. Shane Sumner, 19, confronted three youths in a Connah's Quay park.
He was convicted of robbery and was today given a 15-month jail term suspended for 18 months. Mold Crown Court heard the three teenagers, two aged 16 and one 17-year-old, were approached by Sumner in the park in July, 2023.
Prosecutor Ryan Rothwell said Sumner, who was 18 at the time, asked one of them if they were smoking a "rollie" (a roll-your-own cigarette) and if he could "have a fag". You can sign up for all the latest court stories here
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The youngster refused but Sumner told him he could "nick you". A scuffle broke out and one of the teenagers said the Sumner yanked the pouch of tobacco off another of the teenagers who took it back. A knife fell out of the defendant's trousers' waistband, said Mr Rothwell.
One of the teenagers said he heard Sumner say "I'm going to f****** stab you". But that same teenager picked up the knife and put it in a park bin and the three of them left.
Police were called and they found the knife in the bin, said Mr Rothwell. Sumner was located later with two of the three victims able to identify him.
Amy Edwards, defending, said Sumner was punched by one of the teenagers but accepts his actions were wholly unacceptable. "When his request for the tobacco was denied he lost his temper," she said.
She added that her client has smoked cannabis since he was 14 and was 18 at the time of the incident. He has had issues but has re-engaged with mental health services.
The judge His Honour Rhys Rowlands said: "This court is very concerned about people carrying knives" on the streets. But he noted the defendant did not accept he had it and had not been charged over it.
But the judge noted that Sumner "had threatened to stab him with something" in that "somebody would be cut". However he said there was a realistic prospect of rehabilitation.
He suspended the jail term but imposed two conditions. The defendant, of Garth Lane, Ffynonngroyw, Flintshire, must wear an electronically-monitored tag during a 9pm to 6am curfew for three months.
He must also do up to 25 days of rehabilitation activity. If he fails to comply with these conditions he is liable to serve the prison term.
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