THREE men involved in a robbery in which the victim was stabbed in the leg have been jailed for a combined 13 years.

Kariem Adbel-Halin, of Bingham Road, Verwood, Tyler O’Callaghan, of no fixed abode and Scott Knight, of Portfield Road, Christchurch, all 19, all pleaded guilty to robbing a man in Glen Fern Road on November 14, 2020.

Adbel-Halin and O’Callaghan, who actually stabbed the victim in the leg, both pleaded guilty to being in possession of a knife.

Bournemouth Echo: Tyler O'Callaghan

Tyler O'Callaghan

Knight, also known as Scott Purchase, pleaded guilty to stealing a car and driving while disqualified and while under the influence of drugs in 2019.

They all appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court for sentencing on Friday.

Bournemouth Echo: Kariem Adbel-Halin

Kariem Adbel-Halin

Prosecuting, Simon Foster told the court: “The victim was with two friends, across the road in a carpark all three defendants arrived.

“The three defendants, operating as one group, crossed the road and one of them spoke to the victim and asked what was in the bag.”

Mr Foster said the defendants asked if the victim was selling drugs, O’Callaghan then pushed him and stabbed him in the leg.

Knight grabbed the bag while Adbel-Halin punched the victim.

The victim had a six centimetre wound on his thigh and the court heard how if it was a millimetre further it would have severed an artery.

All defendants were intoxicated at the time of the offence. When interviewed by police, O’Callaghan said “no comment”, while Adbel-Halim admitted punching the victim but not stealing anything while Knight denied committing any offences.

Mr Foster added: “Those who chose to answer questions demonstrably lied.”

Knight also stole a Peugeot 307 in December 2019, and was caught driving it with cannabis in his system and without insurance or a licence.

Mitigating for Adbel-Halin, Gregory Fishwick said: “He has had more trauma in his life at 19 than most people do their entire life. He is angry at his parents for passing away.”

He said the defendant is on medication for depression and anxiety and wanted to reflect on his behaviour.

Mitigating for O’Callaghan, Laurence Henderson said the defendant’s life had been “catastrophic” when his father walked out at birth and his mum kicked him out at 13 years old.

He said: “He is one of those individuals who has fallen between the stalls of a caring, loving home and state intervention.”

He added that he is now on medication for ADHD and an early guilty plea was an indication of his remorse.

Bournemouth Echo: Scott Knight

Scott Knight

Mitigating for Knight, James McCrindell told the court his learning difficulty made him very immature and he was willing to accept his consequence.

He said a letter the defendant wrote to the Judge demonstrated his remorse.

However, Judge Robert Pawson sentenced Adbel-Halim to four years and four months for the robbery and 11 months for being in possession of a blade.

O’Callaghan was sentenced to four years and six months for the robbery and 12 months for possession of the blade.

Knight was sentenced to four years and two months for the robbery and two months for stealing a car.

All the sentences were to be served concurrently. Knight was also disqualified from driving for a year.

Judge Pawson said: “You were involved in a robbery at night, intoxicated, in the dark. Two members of your group attempted to disguise yourselves with hoods.

“The injuries you caused were significant. Each of you is immature which, given your backgrounds, is not hugely surprising.

“Mr O’Callaghan you have the significant aggravating feature that you used the knife. You thrusted it into that man’s leg.”

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