Ipswich knifepoint muggers jailed for total of 13 years

Gary Brooks, jailed for 10 years for robbery and attempted robbery (Image: Archant)

During one of the muggings Liam Mongan, of Star Lane, Ipswich, held a knife to a 16-year-old’s throat.

Mongan was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment by Judge Martyn Levett at Ipswich Crown Court after admitting two counts of robbery.

Gary Brooks was sentenced to 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to robbery and attempted robbery.

The 23-year-old was given an extended sentence which means he must serve six years and four months behind bars before he is eligible to apply for release on licence.

Liam Mongan, who was sentenced to three years' custody (Image: Archant)

After the pair’s sentencing Detective Inspector Barry Byford said: “Mongan admitted to putting a knife to the throat of a 16-year-old boy and robbing six teenagers at knife-point by producing a bag for them to all deposit their valuables in.

Brooks admitted to approaching a man in an alleyway and holding out a knife whilst he stole his mobile phone and cash. He also attempted to rob a fast-food delivery man, ordering food to a nearby address and then waiting with a knife for him to arrive.

“It is pleasing to see that both of these individuals have been given custodial sentences, which reflects the severity of their actions.

“Robbery remains a priority for Suffolk Constabulary and offenders will be punished for their crimes.”

All the offences occurred in a period of less than four weeks between December 2013 and January 2014.

Brooks, of Romford, was one of two men whose faces were covered by scarves involved in threatening a 52-year-old man with a knife in an alleyway off Back Hamlet.

The incident occurred just before 8.15pm on December 12, 2013.

Although the victim tried to flee he was caught by the two assailants, who took his mobile phone, wallet and money, before they ran off.

The attempted robbery which Brooks admitted happened at around 2am on January 3 last year when two men brandishing a knife and a hammer tried to hold-up the takeaway delivery driver in Goring Road, Ipswich.

Both assailants also had scarves covering their faces.

Although the men demanded money, their victim managed to drive off without any cash being stolen.

The offenders ran off into an alleyway leading to Newbury Road.

Mongan, who is 20 on Friday, threatened the 16-year-old boy at knifepoint in Bloomfield Street, Ipswich, between 7.20pm and 7.30pm on December 11, 2013.

Although the youth was unhurt, Mongan stole money from him before running off in the direction of Britannia Road where he had been living.

Mongan was also one of two masked men who mugged the six teenagers at knifepoint at Derby Road train station shortly after 7pm on December 18, 2013.

Mongan and his accomplice had scarves covering their faces

They approached a group of five males and a female on the platform.

Mongan produced a knife while the other robber demanded property.

Three mobile phones, an iPod and tobacco were stolen.

Mongan and Brooks were arrested in January last year.

They both admitted their offences when they entered their guilty pleas before Ipswich Crown Court last month.