A robber who carried out a series of attacks on young people at a Nottingham skate park has been put behind bars.
Detectives linked Luke Sugden to a number of threatening and violent incidents in and around the park, off Canal Street, in May 2025.
During the first incident a group of friends were playing football on 22 May around 10.30am when Sugden approached them.
The 20-year-old grabbed a phone out of one victim’s hand after threatening to stab him.
Sugden demanded the password before throwing the device on the floor and telling another person to stamp on it.
Sugden also ordered another member of the group to turn out his pockets but he did not have anything on him.
Just half an hour later Sugden threatened a further young man and tried to grab his phone before fleeing the scene when police arrived.
Sugden was back at the skate park two days later where he sought out the same victim and threatened to stab him.
Moments later he grabbed another youth’s phone and demanded his password after making further threats.
He also put the victim in a headlock which applied so much pressure he lost feeling in his arms and collapsed to the floor.
Sugden, of Curzon Gardens, St Ann’s, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, and one of both attempted robbery and intentional strangulation.
He was sentenced to three-and-a-half years in a young offender institution at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (17 September).
Detective Constable Farhan Dewan-Williams, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“Sugden’s threatening behaviour during this series of incidents left a number of young people fearful they were going to be stabbed.
“We know the psychological impact of this sort of offending should never be underestimated.
“That is why the force has teams of detectives investigating acquisitive crimes like robbery and supporting those unfortunate enough to become victims.”
