Press release: Leatherhead mugger jailed by Court of Appeal

A man who participated in 2 knife-point robberies has today been jailed after the Solicitor General, Robert Buckland QC MP, referred his suspended sentence for being too low.

James Quinn, now 21, committed 2 street robberies in Leatherhead when he was 19. The victims were aged 11 and 15.

For the first offence, Quinn was accompanied by 2 younger co-defendants, one of whom produced a knife. The group threatened the victim until he gave them his bag and a jumper worth about £150. When the victim threatened to call the police, Quinn drew out a lock knife and threatened to stab him. He also punched the victim several times, although caused no serious harm.

The offenders stole the younger victim’s phone later the same day. Again, one of the offenders confronted the victim with a knife. Quinn was later arrested and found to be in possession of the stolen bag and phone, as well as a lock knife.

Quinn was originally sentenced in January to 2 years imprisonment suspended for 2 years at Guildford Crown Court. Today, the Court of Appeal has given him a sentence of 2 years and 10 months immediate custody.

Commenting on the increase, the Solicitor General said:

“Quinn’s acts of senseless violence not only put the safety of his young victims at risk, but have the potential to lead to the proliferation of knife crime amongst victims and members of the public who now fear for their own safety.”