December 13, 2021 3.21 pm This story is over 27 months old

Drunk teens locked up after trying to rob groups of men in Lincoln

One of the victims suffered a fractured jaw
Ryan Phillips (left) and John Ndinga (right) were both sentenced in December 2021. | Photo: Lincolnshire Police

Two teenagers who pretended to have knives when they tried to rob a group of young men in Lincoln city centre have been locked up by a judge.

Ryan Phillips, 19, and John Ndinga, 18, were both under the influence of alcohol when they confronted the group of four young men during the early hours of March 6 this year.

The pair, both of Picton Street, Lincoln, were convicted of offences of attempted robbery and causing one of their victims grievous bodily harm after a series of hearings at Lincoln Crown Court.

Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst said it was a “deeply unpleasant” incident in which the victims were given the impression that their attackers may have knives.

Judge Hirst added the victims were “minding their own business,” and having seen them, it was obvious two of the group were very small.

The court heard one of the victims, Harry Furnish, suffered a fractured jaw and needed time off both work and university after being punched once by Ndinga.

He had to spend a considerable time in hospital waiting for surgery to his jaw.

In a statement one of the other victims described how he was now very wary of strangers and spent more time inside.

Phillips, of Picton Street, Lincoln, was sentenced to five years and two months in a young offenders institution after he admitted a string of other offences carried out on the same night.

They included two house burglaries, one attempted burglary and a fraud offence all committed on March 6, 2021.

Mark Achurch, prosecuting, told the court Phillips was caught on a video doorbell as he attempted to burgle a property on West Parade.

On the same night Phillips was found inside a property on Newland Street West and chased away by the occupants after taking a laptop computer, coat and bank cards which were used at a nearby store.

Phillips also admitted stealing house keys from another house on Newland Street West.

Ndinga, also of Picton Street, Lincoln, was sentenced to three years in a young offenders institution.

Both teenagers will have time spent obeying a curfew while they awaited court proceedings reduced from their sentences.

David Eager, mitigating, said Phillips turned to drink and showed emotional immaturity after his father passed away.

Mr Eager added that Phillips had shown remorse and personally helped to recover the laptop computer stolen in one of the burglaries.

The court heard Ndinga was only 17 at the time of the offences and was the least aggressive of the pair at the start of the incident.

He has since continued to work hard obtaining educational qualifications while observing a curfew and is a talented sportsman.