A street robber threatened a victim for his iPhone, claiming he had a weapon. The incident occurred outside a shopping center, leaving the victim shaken.
Rhyl: A street robber made a chilling threat while demanding a victim’s phone. The robber, Lee Kutryk, claimed he had a machete, but it turned out to be just some sticks.
He approached a group outside the White Rose shopping center and asked for a light. Then, he tried to sell drugs to one of them, Alfie Earp. Earp just wanted to get rid of him, so he wrote down his number.
Things escalated quickly. Kutryk demanded Earp’s phone, and when he refused, he lifted his shirt to show what looked like a weapon. Earp, fearing for his safety, handed over his iPhone 12.
After the robbery, Earp dropped his lighter and vape. Kutryk picked them up but rode off with the phone. Earp told his friends, and they called the police.
Officers tracked Kutryk down using CCTV. He had switched off the phone’s location service but was arrested soon after. He initially gave a false name but was found with the stolen phone and the sticks.
In court, Kutryk expressed regret, saying he was intoxicated. His lawyer argued he wouldn’t normally act this way. However, the judge pointed out that he was still aware enough to disable the phone’s location.
The judge emphasized that street robberies are a serious issue and must stop. Kutryk was sentenced to 18 months in jail, as he was already on a community order.
