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Three men sentenced over Brierfield robbery and assault

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Three men have received prison sentences for their roles in the robbery and assault of two men.

Kyle Dewhurst was robbed of a mobile phone and punched to the face several times by Aaron McLarrie, of Mosley Street, Nelson.

Ethan Khan was then separately assaulted by Connor Shaw, of Eastern Avenue, Burnley, and Tajoun Baptiste, of Oak Street, Burnley.

Preston Crown Court heard that Mr Dewhurst and Mr Khan had been together at the Morrisons store in Brierfield when McLarrie got off a bus near the shop and started shouting at Mr Dewhurst.

He went up to the pair and all three walked off together, before McLarrie became aggressive, saying: "I know you've got data, if you don't give me your phone I'll smack you."

Tajoun Baptiste. Custody images of the other two defendants have been requested. (Image: Lancashire Police)

He then snatched the phone and made a call, saying to the person on the other end: "I've got Kyle, what do you want me to do with him?"

Mr Dewhurst heard the reply from the other end of the phone as: "Just hit him and I'll give you £1,500."

McLarrie obliged, punching Mr Dewhurst, who began to ran away and found safety in a nearby house.

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Gerard Birch, prosecuting, further told the court that Mr Dewhurst's mother received a call and a male voice said: "If you want to see your son alive, you better pay his debts."

Following the assault on Mr Dewhurst, a car, later established to be driven by Baptiste, pulled up and McLarrie directed Mr Khan to get inside.

They, along with Shaw, who was in the front seat, drove around looking for Mr Dewhurst before pulling into the car park at Brierfield train station.

Preston Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss)

As Mr Khan tried to leave the car, McLarrie pulled him back inside and punched him, along with Shaw, who leaned over from the front passenger seat.

Shaw and Baptiste then exited the car along with Khan, and Baptiste held Mr Khan at knifepoint, at which point Shaw threatened to pay Baptiste to slit Mr Khan's throat.

They ultimately left him, but a passing police officer had seen the incident in the car park. He returned to speak to Mr Khan after the group had fled.

McLarrie, 21, and Shaw, 25, were arrested on June 4 and both provided no comment interviews.

Mr Birch said examination of McLarrie's jacket found blood matching that of Mr Khan.

Baptiste, 31, who was the subject of numerous wanted appeals from the police published in the Lancashire Telegraph, was arrested on June 25, having been discovered hiding in a secret compartment at his home address.

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James Preece, mitigating for Shaw, said his client was sorry for what had happened and for involving himself in the incident.

Mr Preece added that Shaw had been in custody for around 10 months since his arrest and that he is time-served.

Mark Stephenson, for McLarrie, said his client has severe mental health difficulties which have not been appropriately dealt with by the authorities.

He conceded McLarrie's behaviour had been "poor" but said it "can come as no surprise when we know the nature of his mental health difficulties".

Recorder Ayesha Siddiqi twice warned McLarrie during the sentencing hearing to stop laughing while he was in the dock.

Eleanor Brambell, for Baptiste, read a letter her client had written to the court, which set out his remorse, including that he takes "full responsibility for his action and the consequences that followed".

The letter added: "I deeply regret the situation I've caused. I recognise my actions showed poor judgement and a lack of respect for the law."

Recorder Siddiqi recognised the ages of both McLarrie and Shaw but said each were old enough to know better, something she reflected when addressing Baptiste.

McLarrie, who pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery, was sentenced to three years and three months in prison. A five-year restraining order was also imposed between him and the victims.

Shaw and Baptiste, who both pleaded guilty to a single count of affray, were each sentenced to 14 months in prison, and a two-year restraining order was imposed between them and the victims.

With their time already served, those two defendants will be released from custody imminently.

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