Man Sentenced For Bike Robbery At Southampton Station

A man who threatened to stab a commuter before taking his cycle has been sentenced after an investigation by Southampton-based British Transport Police detectives.

33-year-old Daniel Love from Rivers Road, Yeovil, appeared at Southampton Crown Court on, Friday 2nd July, after pleading guilty to robbery on a train between Portchester and Bursledon in December last year.

Appearing at court today, Love - who had also pleaded guilty to obstructing police, assaulting a police officer and a public order offence - was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years. He was also handed an 18-month supervision order and an 18-month Drug Rehabilitation Requirement.

The court heard how Love – who had consumed a large quantity of alcohol – boarded a Southampton-bound train at Portchester station on Wednesday, 2 December 2009.

Detective Constable Matt Bevan, based at Southampton BTP station on Blechynden Terrace, said:

"Around 8pm Love approached the victim, a 29-year-old from Lower Swanwick, and threatened to stab him unless he handed over his brand new cycle.

"When Love intimated that he was about to pull a knife from his jacket the victim gave him the cycle, fearing for his safety, and left the train at Bursledon.

"Love left the train when it arrived at Southampton Central and proceeded to carry the cycle over the live tracks between platforms 3 and 4 before being helped back onto the platform by the station’s duty manager.

"By doing so he put himself in serious danger, not only of being struck by a train but of being electrocuted by the electrocuted by the 750 volt live rail."

When the station duty manager asked Love to leave the station, he began a torrent of verbal abuse, insulting and threatening the member of staff.

As a result Police were called and BTP and Hampshire Constabulary officers attended. However while being arrested Love spat at them and continued his verbal assault, threatening to bite an officer’s nose off.

When interviewed by detectives the next morning, Love admitted being at Southampton Central station but said he was so drunk that he couldn’t recall what had happened.

The cycle was later returned to its owner.

Speaking outside court, DC Bevan added:

"This was an intimidating and frightening experience for the victim, who was simply trying to make his way home after work.

"Love’s threatening behaviour was bad enough, but his actions were made all the worse by his threats to stab the victim, leaving him fearing for his safety and with no option but to hand over his cycle."
 
 
Daniel Love pleaded guilty to robbery, obstructing police, assaulting a police officer and a public order offence at a hearing at Southampton Crown Court on Tuesday, 20 April.

Appearing at the same court today, Friday 2nd July, he was sentenced to a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, an 18-month supervision order and an 18-month Drug Rehabilitation Requirement.