A man has been jailed after carrying out a string of offences – including robbing a man for a bag of chocolates.
Reece Deville targeted his victim after taking offence to him speaking to him as he walked past in Nottingham city centre.
He then approached the 37-year-old man aggressively and, after asking what he had on him, was told that he had some chocolates in his bag.
Deville then rounded on the man and hit him in the face, before snatching his bag and walking away during the incident in Clumber Street on 26 March 2022.
Just ten minutes after the robbery, officers arrested Deville, who was also found to be carrying a craft knife.
Deville, of no fixed address, was also found to be carrying a knife and a sharpened screwdriver, after being stopped by officers in Redcliffe Road, Mapperley Park.
When confronted with the discovery, the 28-year-old insisted that he was carrying the weapons so that he could cut a carpet at home and repair his mobile phone.
He was also found to be carrying cannabis following the stop-and-search on 16 January 2022.
In addition to this, Deville was also charged separately with sending a string of abusive messages to another man on 2 July 2020, in which he threatened to cause him harm.
Deville appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (6 May 2022), having pleaded guilty to robbery, two counts of possession of a knife, possession of an offensive weapon, sending malicious communications and possession of a class B drug.
He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.
Detective Constable Joe Gayton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Robbery is an incredibly serious offence that can leave a mark on people’s lives, both from a physical and emotional standpoint.
“Deville’s actions were completely unacceptable and left his victim very shaken up after he was seemingly targeted for no reason at all.
“He has also on more than one occasion been found to be carrying knives or other offensive weapons on him, which is both very dangerous and irresponsible in the extreme.
“It is important that people understand that carrying a knife actually puts them at a greater risk of harm, while also endangering others around them – for obvious reasons.
“I hope that this sentence shows the public how seriously we take offences of this nature and I hope that Deville uses his time in prison to revaluate how he’s living his life.”
