A robber who helped lure a victim with a false Facebook advert for a £3,600 e-bike has been branded "'stupid" by a judge.
Jayden O'Donnell and Keenan Hilditch posted an ad under a fake name on the social media site. Hilditch, 21, spoke to the buyer, agreed a fee of £3,300 and arranged to meet up with the bike which O'Donnell rode in Hulme.
But Hilditch brandished a 13in machete after the buyer, who was joined by his girlfriend and dad, handed over the cash and began to climb onto the bike to leave in Plattwood Walk.
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The robber pulled the huge blade from his tracksuit bottoms and shouted 'run' to O'Donnell, 20, who picked up the bike which had been dropped and rode off at 6.10pm on July 22.
Prosecuting, Duncan Wilcock told Manchester Crown Court: "At that point Hilditch still had the complainant's money and began to walk away." The victims followed and the dad pinned Hilditch against a fence before he was slashed in the arm and body and needed stitches.
Judge Mr Recorder MacAdam described O'Donnell as "immature, easily led and stupid". He added: "You do present a risk of being serious harm to others unless you change your ways."
O'Donnell, of Pilgrims Way, Salford, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to a 22-month Detention and Training Order (DTO). Hilditch, of Warsend Walk, Hulme, admitted robbery, unlawful wounding, possession of a bladed article and was sentenced to four years and seven months in jail.
Defending O'Donnell, Hannah Forsythe said he had not been aware Hilditch was armed with a machete. She described him as "lightly convicted", suffered from ADHD and was still receiving treatment for a previous head injury. She said he showed genuine remorse and wanted to work in construction.
Miss Forsythe said peer pressure had played a part, adding: "His actions undoubtedly caused harm but not as much psychologically or physically as his co-defendent. He went to this robbery intending to rob but was not aware of a weapon."
Defending Hilditch, Pat Buckley, said he suffered from ADHD and was intelligent but impulsive. He said Hilditch, who was was already on a suspended sentence for robbery, never intended to use the machete.
Judge Mr Recorder Macadam said: "What is so tragic about this is that you are both so young and going to prison for the first time. It is not the best way to start adult life, though you are some way into adult life already."
He told Hilditch: "You have sat in front of this sort of dock before and could not have been under any illusion of what would happen."
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