A knife carrier has been put behind bars for his part in violent street attacks.
Dennis Voce was a member of a gang who assaulted a dog walker, threatened him with knives and stole his mobile phone.
The victim was walking along Lister Gate when he came under attack from the youths around 8pm on 26 September 2024.
Members of the same group were later involved in a further incident at McDonald’s, in Angel Row, when a member of staff was assaulted and damage caused to a window.
When police arrived at the scene, in the early hours of 27 September, security staff had detained Voce and officers seized a knife.
Voce pleaded guilty to two counts of assault, theft and possession of a knife in a public place in relation to the two incidents.
Nineteen-year-old Voce, who also goes by the name Dennis Booth, was sent to a young offender institution for a total of two-and-a-half years at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (9 July).
He was also sentenced after admitting affray in connection with an earlier attack on a man in St Ann’s on 26 November 2023.
The victim, aged in his 60s, had got off a bus in St Ann’s Well Road around 9pm when he was followed and taunted by Voce and a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age.
The younger defendant beat the man with a scaffolding pole while Voce filmed the attack.
The boy admitted committing grievous bodily harm without intent and was handed a youth rehabilitation order.
Two other defendants have been sentenced for their roles in the September 2024 incidents and another will be sentenced in due course.
Detective Sergeant Chris Mavers, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“These incidents were appalling attacks on people who were going about their daily business when they were targeted by these youths.
“The dog walker was surrounded by the intimidating and threatening group, some of whom were wielding knives, before having his phone stolen.
“Hours later Voce assaulted an employee at a fast food restaurant and other members of the group smashed a window.
“The victim in the first incident was making his way home when he was verbally abused and taunted before being struck with a scaffolding pole. He was left with some nasty injuries and it must have been a frightening ordeal.
“Teams of detectives will always investigate disorder of this nature thoroughly and offer support to victims.
“I’m pleased a number of people have now been through the courts in relation to thee incidents and Voce has been locked up.
“The force’s work to educate young people about the risks and consequences of knife crime continues through education sessions in schools or colleges, engagement work in the community and proactive policing.”
