A man was forced to take MDMA then stabbed in what a judge called an 'appalling and serious robbery'.
The victim, 32 at the time, suffered a small stab wound to his back which pierced his lung, causing it to collapse. A court heard he needed a chest drain in hospital and has suffered 'significant physical and psychological trauma' since the attack.
Korey Watson, then aged 17 but who is now 19, has been locked up. Watson, of Kenworthy Lane, Northenden, Wythenshawe, told the victim 'you are going to get drugged out of your head' before he stabbed him in the back.
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He admitted robbery and was imprisoned at a Minshull Street Crown Court sentencing hearing on Friday for three years and two months. Two others were also sentenced for their parts in the incident in Wythenshawe in March, 2020.
Anthony Bottomley was 16 at the time and is now 18. Bottomley, of Booth Street West, Hulme, also pleaded guilty to robbery and the court heard he was involved in 'multiple punches'.
Judge Recorder Sarah Johnston sentenced him to two years detention, suspended for 18 months, and ordered him to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. Serenity Smith, now 20, was 18. Smith, of Hollinsclough Close, Wythenshawe, admitted theft and was given a 12-month community order.
Pair threatened victim with knives
David Toal, prosecuting, said in 2019 Smith and the victim were in a 'turbulent' relationship that ended in the October and both used cannabis. Before the break up, there was an incident involving a friend of the victim which upset Smith, the court was told. As a result, the victim stopped speaking to his friend.
Smith, Mr Toal said, demanded 'compensation' from the man, but the victim said he did not want anything to do with it. The court heard their relationship resumed and the victim went to Smith's flat on numerous occasions, where he was introduced to someone called 'Jack', who was actually Watson, who he regularly saw with MDMA.
Smith once again demanded 'compensation', Mr Toal said. He told the court: "Smith told him if he didn't get the compensation he would have to pay it himself."
On March 26, 2020, Smith messaged the victim and asked him to come to her flat. Watson and Bottomley were already there. Watson asked if he could use the man's phone then left the lounge before coming back in and giving him the phone back. The court heard a short time later, Watson and Bottomley left the lounge again and returned holding knives.
They accused the victim of giving Smith MDMA at a party the year before, which he denied, and refused to let him leave. Watson then told him 'you are going to get drugged out of your head and then leave', according to Mr Toal, before he was handed MDMA. "Given he was faced with two knives he felt forced to take the drugs," said the prosecutor.
He was told to hand over his phone and to put his keys and bus pass on the table. "The complainant then found the courage to fight and kicked Watson and punched Bottomley," Mr Toal said.
He said the victim ran to the door of the lounge but felt a 'sharp pain to his back'. "He tried to leave the flat but the door handle had been removed," Mr Toal added.
Smith 'panicked' and called an ambulance, but was told to tell police the victim had taken drugs and stabbed himself, Mr Toal said. The court heard she stole his bus pass and bank card and was involved in constructing a 'false narrative' for the police who arrested them all.
'Humiliating ordeal'
Defending Bottomley, Rachel White, said: "It's a very nasty offence but he did have the decency to stay and help the victim. He didn’t take a knife to the flat and didn’t plan to participate in the offence.
"It was an incident that got out of control with children and a 32-year-old victim. He is quite immature and wants to wish away the events. He was only 16 at the time and has matured quickly since these offences."
Defending Smith, Oliver Jarvis, said: "In her stupid panic and fear she lied to police and she bitterly regrets this. She is doing everything she can to put herself in the best position available in these circumstances." Willian Douglas-Jones, for Watson, said it wasn't a planned robbery but a 'spiralling set of events involving young people'. The case, he said, represented a 'moment of madness' for Watson, which he said would affect the rest of his life.
Recorder Johnston said the victim was put through a 'humiliating, frightening and harmful ordeal', saying the man was 'frightened and did what he was told'.
