Thugs' ringleader a danger to society

THE RINGLEADER of a teenage gang responsible for armed break-ins has been branded a "bully" and a danger to society by a judge.

Aiden Mercer, 19, was locked up for eight years by Recorder Duncan Smith after pleading guilty to four counts of robbery and another count of burglary.

His accomplices, Joseph Wilson, 19, and Macauley Smith, 15, were sentenced to four years and three years four months respectively yesterday after admitting their part in the gang's raids around homes in Boulevard, west Hull.

Mercer's girlfriend Gemma Fuller, 19, was given a 12-month community order for handling goods stolen by the gang.

Passing sentence on Mercer, Recorder Smith said: "You are out of control. You're probably beyond control. The people no longer want you in their midst.

"The carrying of weapons is only a small step away from the using of weapons.

"It only takes a victim of courage to put up a resistance to your onslaught and I've no doubt you would not hesitate to use them."

The gang terrorised families by bursting into houses armed with scissors, table legs and a knife.

Mercer and Smith entered one man's home in West Park Grove on November 14, brandishing wooden table legs, which they used to threaten him and his brother.

They stole his wallet and mobile phone.

On December 11, Mercer, Wilson and Smith forced their way inside a house in Boulevard after knocking on the door.

Mercer pointed a pair of scissors in the man's face while his girlfriend sobbed helplessly.

He and Wilson punched and kicked the man in his face while Smith stuffed two games consoles into a bag.

They also stole cash, aftershave and a mobile phone.

Before they left, Wilson said he would kill the man if he went to the police.

On December 18, Mercer and Smith broke into a house in Heathfield Square, stealing five children's computer tablets, each worth £270, which had been bought as Christmas presents.

They also took a phone and televisions and games from the children's bedrooms.

A 10in knife had been taken from the kitchen and was found in a bedroom.

Mercer also robbed a 17-year-old boy of his mobile phone as he walked along a track between Anlaby Road and Spring Bank West on December 10.

The boy believed a knife was pressed against his side during the attack.

The gang was caught after Fuller was seen on CCTV at Cash Express trying to sell the children's presents, a PlayStation and a phone hours after the burglary on December 18.

The court heard Mercer has been committing crime since he was nine – including four street robberies before he was 15.

Recorder Smith said: "Robbery of people in their homes is regarded, quite properly, as very serious indeed.

"The victim has nowhere to run and in one of these cases may feel caught between the need to flee and the need to stay and protect a fellow victim, or property."

Mercer asked for an aggravated burglary and an assault with intent to rob to be taken into consideration.

He will remain on licence after his release until 2025. Recorder Smith said if he reoffended, the courts could impose a life sentence.

Humberside Police said it would not be appropriate to release a picture of 15-year-old Smith, although the court did not oppose him being identified.