Robber threatened to stab victim if he didn’t hand over phone

The victim believed that the robber had a knife in his waistband

A robber who threatened to stab a man in Peterborough has been jailed for two years. Leonard Devall, 28, approached the 25-year-old man in Lincoln Road, Millfield, in the early hours of January 22.

He asked the victim for money, which was handed over. Devall then threatened to stab the victim unless he allowed him to use his mobile phone to call someone. The victim complied but Devall refused to hand the phone back, forcing the man to leave without it.

Devall, of Whitsed Street, Eastfield, Peterborough, was identified through CCTV footage and arrested just over a week later in the city centre. He was jailed for two years at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (June 5), after previously pleading guilty to robbery.

DC Hannon, who investigated, said: “This would have been a terrifying ordeal for the victim who believed he saw a knife concealed in Devall’s waistband.

“Thanks to both the bravery of the victim in coming forward, and the quick work of our officers, we were able to arrest Devall, and he will now be spending time behind bars.”