Teesside teenager 'bit off more than he could chew'

Morgan Handley-Todd was spotted trying to take the bike from outside a pub before he was chased down an alleyway where he attacked the man and left him with an injury to his hand.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 19-year-old attacked another man when he was trying to break into a BMW and steal contents from inside.

Nigel Soppitt, prosecuting, said during the first offence the defendant was challenged by members of the scooter club who were meeting in the Marine Hotel in Saltburn.

He said: “When the complainant caught up to the defendant he struck him on the hand. The defendant shouted ‘I’ll have you. I’ll f****** have you’ – the complainant said - ‘well put the knife down and come on then’.

“Initially, there was no realisation that he had been injured as he thought he had been struck with the flat part of the metal weapon.”

The victim required stitches to the wound and he will have a permanent scar as a result.

Mr Soppitt said the teenager then attacked a man when he was confronted as he rifled through a BMW looking for items to steal.

The teenager then threatened to burn down the man’s home.

Morgan Handley-Todd (Image: Cleveland Police)

Handley-Todd, of Lismore Gardens, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, two charges of attempted theft, battery and possession of an offensive weapon from April 25 this year.

Paul Rooney, mitigating, said: “This was an opportunistic rather than a targeted attack. He was fearful when several people chased him up an alleyway.

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“This was an opportunistic attempt to steal the scooter and when several people chased him up the alley, he had a foot injury and was unable to run away, and stupidly pulled out this garden implement and accepts he struck the person with it.”

Judge Chris Smith sentenced the teenager to a total of three years and two months for all offences.

“One person had parked their scooter outside the pub and you thought you would try to help yourself, you were seen by somebody, but you bit off more than you could chew.

“They gave chase down an alleyway and you were seen to be in possession of something about a foot long and silver and sufficiently sharp, that when you struck your victim it caused injury to his hand,” he said.