Gazette News
Attempted robbery of cyclist, 16
10:44am Saturday 4th February 2012
A MAN from Taunton who tried to steal from a 16-year-old boy on a bicycle has been sentenced.
Kalvin Laver, of Calvados Road, admitted attempted robbery when he appeared at Taunton Crown Court last week and was handed a two-year community order.
The 18-year-old admitted he had held the handlebars of the bike so that the boy couldn’t get away during the incident in Taunton but said another man had been the one who made demands.
The court head how Laver’s bad behaviour stemmed from a drinking problem that caused him to act in an anti-social manner.
He had been using a Somerset-based support service for alcohol addiction but stopped attending the sessions because he found them ‘patronising’.
Recorder Simon Levene handed down a two-year community order and an 18-month supervision order before telling Laver he would have to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and attend a Thinking Skills programme for 18 days.
He also warned Laver, who had already served four-and-a-half months on remand, to control his alcohol fuelled misbehaviour of face being brought back to court.
He told Laver: “If you can’t stop your drinking, you’ll be back here again.”
This report refers to the same incident reported in the County Gazette of February 2 in which an error meant the age of the cyclist was stated as six, when it should have been 16. The County Gazette apologises for the error and is happy to set the record straight.