Tyrell Marshall’s 18-year-old victim has been ‘having nightmares’ ever since, Cardiff Crown Court heard
A TEENAGER who brandished a knife at a stranger then robbed him of his designer Moncler jacket has been sentenced to more than four years in prison.
Tyrell Marshall, 19, approached his victim when he was ordering food from a takeaway on Clifton Street in Adamsdown, said prosecutor Ieuan Bennett.
The victim, Matthew Gray, walked away towards the Clifton Hotel on Broadway when Marshall shouted, “Oi, hand over your coat,” Mr Bennett continued.
Mr Bennett said a man accompanying the defendant struck Mr Gray to the side of the face. As the victim tried to walk off, still holding his takeaway, the defendant intimidated him by showing him the handle of a knife tucked down his trousers on “the basis he would be prepared to use it if needs be”.
Inside the jacket was an iPhone, containing sentimental photos of him and his girlfriend that were never recovered, the court heard.
After the incident on April 5, 2024, Mr Bennett went into the Clifton Hotel to call police while a group of pubgoers gathered outside to look for his attackers.
A victim impact statement read to the court told how Mr Gray became “angry” with why he had been targeted. “My family and girlfriend have noticed an increase in my anxiety,” he said. “I’ve had flashbacks of people coming from behind me and I’ve developed mental health problems.
“This criminal’s actions simply for a coat have had sweeping effects on me for the last eight months and will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Ten days later, on April 15, 2024, police witnessed the defendant wearing the same jacket leaving a property and getting into a taxi. Mr Bennett said police arrested him shortly afterwards.
The property, on Bayside Road, Splott, was searched by police who found £1,600 worth of drugs, including heroin and crack cocaine as well as a set of scales and various mobile phones.
When questioned, Marshall said to police he bought the jacket from a friend via Snapchat, but a DNA test proved it was the victim’s, Mr Bennett said.
David Pinnell, defending, agreed with a custodial sentence, but asked the judge to consider Marshall’s age and upbringing.
Mr Bennett said the defendant intended to distance himself from people he met in London before moving to South Wales.
“He has five GCSEs including Maths and English, and wishes to enrol into further education college and rebuild his life,” Mr Bennett continued.
Marshall pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery and one charge of possession of a bladed article in the first incident dated April 5. He also pleaded guilty to two charges of possession with intent to supply relating to the incident on April 15.
He was also sentenced for breaching his youth rehabilitation order concerning two previous charges of possession of an offensive weapon.
Sentencing him to four years and four months, the Recorder of Cardiff, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, told Marshall: “You are still very young and immature. I do bear in mind your very difficult background from the pre-sentence report.
“I also bear in mind that the victim not only lost an expensive phone, but the phone had a number of photos which were of significant sentimental value to him.”
Victim Matthew Gray, who was present in the court’s public library during the sentencing, told The Cardiffian afterwards: “I used to visit Cardiff quite regularly to visit my girlfriend. But since the attack happened, it’s put me off.
“I’m a night person, that’s the thing. Me and my mates would always go out at night and sleep in the day, but this [attack] has changed everything. Normally I like to give people second chances, but not in this case.
“I’m happy with that charge. Hopefully, it puts him in his place so when he comes back he’s not doing the same thing to another person.”
