Two men who attacked and robbed several victims in the early hours of the morning in the centre of Manchester have been jailed
Nathan Mellor aged 30 of Mitchell Gardens, Manchester has been sentenced to 27 months in prison and has an indefinite Criminal Behaviour Order not to enter the city centre.
Remi Oates aged 24 of no fixed abode address has been sentenced to 31 weeks.
Their victims were walking from Market Street towards Piccadilly Gardens when they were approached by a man
The offender forcibly snatched the victim’s blue iPhone from his hand, stating he would stab him if he was not given any money.
Friends of the victim tried to restrain the suspect in an attempt to prevent him from getting away with the phone.
During this struggle, a group of unidentified males gathered and began assaulting the victims, which then allowed the suspect to leave the area.
A witness reported that the victims had been threatened with a knife, prompting an urgent police response.
Police located a man matching the suspect’s description near Back Piccadilly. The man initially provided false details but was later identified as Nathan Mellor.
Mellor was arrested on suspicion of robbery. A distinctive phone case belonging to the victim was found in his possession during a search.
Further checks confirmed Mellor was in breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order prohibiting him from entering Manchester city centre.
The order was issued by Manchester Crown Court in September 2023 for a period of three years. He was additionally arrested for breaching this order.
Officers continued to track the victim’s stolen phone using FindMyiPhone, which showed it travelling between Swinton and Manchester city centre.
Police stopped a bus at Piccadilly Gardens which they believed the suspect who had the phone to be travelling on.
As passengers were getting off the bus, officers detained a man who was identified as Oates.
A search revealed a knife and the victim’s blue iPhone, which was immediately identified by the victim.
Oates was arrested on suspicion of robbery and possession of a bladed article.
