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Drunken robber threatened to throw 16-year-old boy under a train at Wirral's Conway Park Station



A court heard today how a robber high on drink and steroids threatened to throw a terrified 16-year-old boy under a train.

Gary Irving targeted the youngster at Conway Park railway station in Birkenhead while on life licence for robbery, having been released just five months earlier.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that he also has a previous conviction for robbing a train passenger.

Judge John Phipps told 25-year-old Irving, "It was cowardly behaviour towards a 16-year-old.

"It was behaviour of which you have been guilty in the past and it is intolerable that users of public transport on Merseyside should be subjected to this sort of criminal and loutish behaviour."

Ian Criddle, prosecuting, said that on the evening of September 13 last year the victim was in the lift at Conway Park station when Irving and two companions got in.

Irving was aggressive and made remarks about the boy, who was dressed as a Goth, and asked him for money. He asked if he had his sleeping bag with him which the boy took as a veiled threat.

The boy found a seat on the platform and Irving, who was by then making loud sexual comments about female passengers, sat by him and asked for £2.

He told the boy, "I won't ask you again, I'll put you under the next train."

When a train pulled in Irving said, "You had best give it to me now or I'll throw you under that train."

The boy, who feared for his life, handed over £10, said Mr Criddle.

Irving, of Kingsmount Road, Oxton, was arrested on October 1 after being recognised on CCTV footage by police. When interviewed he said he had been drinking and taking steroids.

Judge Phipps jailed him for three years four months but as he was recalled to prison after the offence Judge Phipps told him that he would not be released until the Parole Board decide it is safe to do so.

He had received an indeterminate sentence for public protection for the earlier offence in 2006 but had been released after serving the 15-month minimum term.

Irving appeared in the dock handcuffed to a dock officer as he has a conviction for escaping and assaulting a security officer.

John Weate, defending, said that after leaving jail he had quickly got back into drinking and that day had taken steroids. He had had a significant drink problem since the age of 14.


THE GLOBE

Such a big man picking on boys. Waste of space.

Should never have been released in the first place, bullying scumbag.

If ever there was a case for throwing away the key.

yerr