Baseball Bat Robber Jailed After Brutal Phone Heist
Rifiqat Khan, 37, of Abbeyfield Road, was slammed with a three-year prison sentence after a brazen robbery in Ecclesall.
Fake Phone Sale Turns Violent
On September 13, 2020, a woman arranged to sell her iPhone XS to a Gumtree user named ‘Leon.’ She met the ‘buyer’ at Glenholme Road with her boyfriend. But things quickly turned nasty.
DC Ryan Griffiths explained, “The victim met Khan and his accomplice, who was pretending to be ‘Leon.’ After handing over the phone, the accomplice ran off. Suddenly, Khan emerged from behind a parked car, armed with a baseball bat, and smashed the victim’s boyfriend over the head.”
Victim’s Boyfriend and Bystanders Take Down Thieves
Despite the savage blow, the boyfriend gave chase. Along with quick-thinking bystanders, he managed to detain Khan and his accomplice until the police arrived.
“Being involved in a robbery is a terrifying experience that understandably can leave people traumatised,” said DC Griffiths. “I commend the bravery of the victim’s boyfriend and the passers-by who stopped Khan and his accomplice from escaping.”
Sentencing Justice Served
- Khan pleaded guilty to robbery, conspiracy to rob, and handling stolen goods.
- He received a 3-year sentence for robbery plus concurrent sentences of 9 months for conspiracy and 1 month for handling stolen goods.
- He was also fined £190.
- His teenage accomplice, aged 16 at the time, got a 12-month community order with rehab requirements.
- The sentencing took place on June 11, 2022.
Justice caught up with Khan, but the victim’s boyfriend and heroic bystanders made sure the robbers didn’t get away.
