Bolton: Teen sentenced after attempting to rob man with a 'long knife'

Sebastian Wojtkowiak, 18, committed the offence on the night of March 3 this year alongside a 16-year-old accomplice, who cannot be named for legal reasons. 

Wojtkowiak, of Hatfield Road, Halliwell, was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court on June 14, having pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and possession of a knife in a public place at a prior date. 

Prosecuting, Philip Boyd, said: "On March 3 this year, the victim was walking down Newport Street, towards Victoria Square when he noticed two men behind him, and they approached him and stopped him at the junction of Victoria Square and Oxford Street. 

"They asked him for money, he did not have any money on him but offered to bank transfer. They tried to take his mobile phone, but he refused. 

"Having looked at the CCTV, no one else was around at the time." 

Mr Boyd added that it had "clearly been at night-time". 

He added: "They were shadow boxing towards him and he lashed out to protect himself. One of the defendants made contact with his face. 

"Both were swinging their hands." 

Wojtkowiak (Image: GMP)

He then ran away, with the pair chasing him down and punching him "multiple times in the face". 

Mr Boyd added: "One drops a knife and he picked it up and chased after them. 

"CCTV footage from earlier in the night shows both meeting together, they appear to be conspiring, talking about 'camping' - doing what they did. 

"Camping effectively means robbing people." 

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The victim was taken to hospital, and said to have suffered a "broken nose and cuts to his lips". 

In his victim personal statement, he said the incident has had an "ongoing impact on his life", saying he feels "unsafe". 

When arrested by police, Wojtkowiak said: "What for? I didn't do anything". 

Defending, Charlotte Phillips said: "He described he and the co-defendant being bored at home and it was his younger co-defendant who made the suggestion. 

Wojtkowiak was dealt with at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Google)

"Footage indicates the co-defendant who makes the initial strikes.

"The defendant was said to have poor judgement." 

She highlighted his struggles with the English language and being bullied at school, causing him to fall in with "the wrong crowd".

She also stressed him as being of a similar level of maturity to his 16-year-old co-defendant, though faced a much tougher sentence. 

Concluding, Recorder Philip Grundy said: "You and a 16-year-old friend decided to go out into Bolton town centre with knives. 

"It is important to note that knife crime in this country is becoming a stain and a blot on the lives of lawful citizens. 

"I have a photograph of the knife you took out, that is a long knife." 

He added that Wojtkowiak "very clearly" intended on "frightening" people with it. 

Speaking to the defendant, Recorder Grundy added: "So frightened was he, he offered to transfer you money. 

"To try and suggest that the primary driver for this was the 16-year-old rather than you, at 18, is pitiful despite your lack of maturity. 

"You are an adult, and there is a reason why adults are held to different sentences." 

He sentenced Wojtkowiak to two years and six months in a young offenders institution.