Warton teenager who showed an airgun to boy before taking his bike and shoe is jailed

A teenager who stole a boy's bike after he fell off it has been given 24 weeks in a young offender's institution.
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Preston Crown Court was told there had been a 'history' between Daniel Stride, 18, and his 17-year-old victim, as Stride believed he had damaged his parents' car.

Prosecuting, Jeremy Grout-Smith said Stride, of Lytham Road, Warton, had taken advantage when the startled teenager saw him and fell from his bike.

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Stride allegedly fired the airgun - which he disputes - and stole his bicycle and training shoe.

Daniel StrideDaniel Stride
Daniel Stride

Mr Grout Smith added: " On July 30 this year the police were contacted by the complainant at about 10.30pm reporting his mobile phone and bike had been stolen by the defendant.

"And he mentioned that the defendant had with him what he knew to be a gas gun because he'd bought it from a friend.

"He saw the defendant when he was out on the bike, he managed to fall off his bike onto the ground, the defendant taking advantage of that to take away the items concerned."

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He said the boy later went with others to the defendant's home on Lytham Road, and around midnight Stride's mother called police reporting people were outside accusing her son of stealing.

Police attended the house at around 12.35am and found the gas powered air pistol, which fired BB pellets.

Mr Grout-Smith said: "It's quite a realistic looking weapon indeed and is made by the manufacturers of real guns with a view to it looking as real as possible."

In a victim statement the boy said he was aware Stride had recently bought the airgun and was "backing away" when Stride told him to "run".

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Stride admitted theft and possession of an airgun and of cannabis.

The court heard he had been in custody before and had a 'raft' of previous convictions.

In 2018, aged 15, he became the first in the Fylde borough to be issued with the new Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO), after more than 100 complaints of crime and anti-social behaviour.

Janet Ironfield, defending, said he deserved "considerable credit" for his guilty pleas and constructive attitude.

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She told the court he had "made great strides in his personal life" and that illness in the family was motivating him to change his ways.

She added: "This air pistol was not loaded, there was no ammunition within and no ammunition was discharged through it.

" This was in essence a chance meeting, it is apparent the defendant had driven off with a view to walking the dog.

"He was clearly surprised to see the defendant come upon him, he didn't expect to see him and fell off his bike.

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"There was a history between them. It was believed he had damaged the defendant's parents' car and it may well be that's the explanation for the defendant taking the phone."

Judge Heather Lloyd said the offences were aggravated by Stride's previous convictions and failure to comply with court orders, adding: " There is clearly a background to the case and I'm sure there's plenty of information that neither you or the complainant have mentioned.

"I'm also sceptical this was a chance meeting."

"Now you are 18 you will no longer be appearing in the youth court it really is now up to you whether your adult life is blighted by court and by criminality, or whether you take the opportunities given to you.

The 24 week sentence means Stride, who has been in custody since his arrest, will be released in a few days as he has already served the equivalent of his sentence on remand.

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