A robber who threatened seven people in less than two hours using a claw hammer has been jailed for four years.
Jaikus Wallace, 19, of Lavender Walk, St Anns, admitted five robberies, two attempted robberies and one charge of possession of an offensive weapon.
Nottingham Crown Court was told how he began his city centre crime spree by attempting to rob a man outside the McDonalds in Wheeler Gate at around 12.50am on October 2 last year.
Wallace approached the man and produced a claw hammer before demanding he empty is pockets and hand over his mobile phone. However, the would-be victim instead threw the meal he was eating in Wallace’s face before running away.
Five minutes later, Wallace approached a man on George Street, brandishing the claw hammer, and stole the victim’s phone and wallet.
At around 1.05am he found his third target. Approaching a man walking alone in Glasshouse Street, Wallace demanded and received the victim’s phone and wallet.
Then at 2.35am he robbed two men as they walked on Byard Lane. He made the pair face a wall as he searched them then punched both in the face before leaving with a wallet.
At 2.45am Wallace approached another lone man and, whilst brandishing the claw hammer, said “your wallet or your life”. Wallace searched the man, stole his wallet and phone and ran off.
A short time later, he threatened his final victim – a teenager walking alone in Bridlesmith Gate.
The victim described how Wallace said “this is a robbery” before being told to sit on the floor. Wallace held the claw hammer to his temple and left with the victim’s phone and some toffees he’d bought that evening at the Goose Fair.
Wallace was not found following a search of the area but was identified as a suspect following CCTV work. A search of his home recovered a number of the stolen mobile phones which were traced back to their owners.
In interview, he admitted all of the offences, telling officers he had drunk heavily the night of the robberies and could not explain his actions. He was jailed on Friday.
Det Con Chris Taylor said: “The people he robbed that evening were subject to a terrifying experience. Wallace picked young men, almost always walking alone, and on each occasion he brandished the claw hammer, using fear to make people hand over their belongings.
“The crimes have left a lasting impact on his victims and several have remarked that they have only been able to re-enter the City centre once they heard he was caught and kept on remand. We hope today’s sentencing serves as some comfort to them as they return to enjoy their evenings in our city centre.”
