Simon Pope and Luke Spencer jailed for knifepoint attack

Luke Spencer, also known as Luter, and Simon Pope, both 21, are each facing more than three years behind bars after robbing a terrified Louis Dibben on his birthday as he walked home alone along Castle Lane West, in Bournemouth.

A police appeal helped catch the pair, who at first invented alibis to cover their tracks. Simon Jones, prosecuting, told Bournemouth Crown Court how Spencer grabbed the teenager from behind, held a three-inch blade to his throat and rifled through his pockets, taking his mobile phone.

The pair then took his rucksack and wallet, with £30 cash, and left.

Months after the unprovoked attack on June 5, the victim is still coming to terms with his ordeal.

Mr Jones added: “He always thinks twice about going out alone and is scared at night.”

The main aggressor, Spencer, has a young son and is so full of remorse for his alcohol-fuelled crime that he attempted suicide, Jonathan Simpson said in mitigation.

Frank Abbott, mitigating for Pope, said his client was also drunk: “He knew Spencer had a knife but did not think he would use it.

“He was not keen on the idea of robbery but went along with it.”

Judge John Harrow handed Spencer, of Lane Side in Shaftesbury, four years for robbery and carrying an offensive weapon.

Pope, of Pigeon Close in Blandford, got three years and four months in prison after pleading guilty to robbery.

He said: “Picture this – a 17-year-old boy walking home from a party is suddenly randomly confronted by you two. Spencer, you have him by the neck with a knife in your hand when Pope joins in.

“What an unnerving experience for this most unfortunate young man.”

Speaking outside court, Detective Sergeant Steve May said Mr Dibben had simply been in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Spencer has a previous conviction for robbery while Pope has a history of burglary, racially aggravated harassment, drug possession, public disorder and criminal damage.