A Derby man, Keiron Birks, terrorized a 15-year-old boy on Osmaston Park Road, forcing the teenager to hand over his mobile phone in a brazen robbery.
The incident took place on March 27 when Birks, 24, approached the boy and accused him of stealing a phone that supposedly belonged to one of Birks’ friends. He threatened the boy with violence, claiming that his ‘friend’ was coming with a knife. Fearing for his safety, the teenager gave Birks his phone.
But this wasn’t Birks’ only crime in a string of offences committed in early 2024.
Just days later, on April 8, Birks broke into a car parked on Marlborough Road in Allenton, stealing a wallet, sunglasses, and a vape. He quickly used the stolen bank cards to make purchases at a McDonald’s and a service station before police caught up with him later that day.
Upon his arrest, Birks was found in possession of cocaine and cannabis, and in a further attempt to evade the law, he tried to escape from police custody.
Birks, of Victory Road, Derby, was charged with multiple offences, including robbery, theft, blackmail, fraud, drug possession, and escape from lawful custody.
Following his arrest, Birks was remanded in custody and later admitted to nine offences. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison during a hearing at Derby Crown Court on September 26.
