Three robbers who forced their way into a student’s bedroom before stealing almost £2,000 have been jailed.
Jonel St Catherine entered a student apartment building in Castle Gate, Nottingham, along with his brother Jaheem St Catherine and accomplice Solomon Schaff shortly before 1pm on 24 April.
Armed with a 12-inch kitchen knife, they made their way up to the fourth floor before knocking on the door of a 19-year-old student.
When the student answered, they forced their way into the room and held him up against a wall.
Nottingham Crown Court heard the knife was held against the student’s throat and that the robbers forced him to unlock his phone, before transferring £1,900 out of his online banking apps.
The victim was then kicked and punched, with the robbers then fleeing the scene in an Uber taxi having also taken the student’s passport.
The student – who suffered cuts and bruises in the incident – called the police having recognised one of the robbers as a local drug dealer.
Following inquiries, detectives executed a warrant at an address in Mansfield Road, Sherwood, Nottingham, and discovered the victim’s passport.
Clothing matching that seen on CCTV around the time of the robbery was also seized from the property, while a mobile phone containing footage of the robbery was also discovered.
The trio were arrested and each went on to plead guilty to robbery, with their sentencings taking place on Thursday (9 October).
Jonel St Catherine, 20, of Mansfield Road, Sherwood, Nottingham, was jailed for five years and three months. Jaheem St Catherine, 23, of Alperton Street, West Kilburn, London, was jailed for four years and eight months, and Solomon Schaff , 23, of Mansfield Road, Sherwood, Nottingham, was jailed for four years and six months.
In sentencing the trio, Recorder Luke Blackburn said: “Using a knife against another young man in his own university bedroom is obviously an appalling, dangerous and frightening thing to do.
“In my judgement, all three of you are each liable for what each other did. It doesn’t matter who took the knife. It doesn’t matter who held it to the victim’s face and throat while threats were made. All three of you were there to see what was said and done.”
Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Tim Townsend, who led the investigation, said:
“This was a truly appalling crime that had a far reaching impact on the victim.
“Robbery is a petrifying crime anyway, but for these offenders to subject a young student to a terrifying ordeal like this in his own apartment is truly shocking.
“The victim had just received his student loan and the money that was stolen left him unable to cover basic living costs. He fell into rent arrears and so was forced to take warehouse jobs as far away as Worksop and Alfreton.
“As a result, he was not getting to his lectures and ultimately he lost his place at university.
“I am pleased these offenders have been brought to justice and hope the victim is able to draw some comfort in knowing they are behind bars.”
