Men jailed for alleyway ambush robbery

Three robbers who "ambushed" a man in an alleyway and stole his phone, money and bank card have been jailed.

Steven Green, Dean Blacklock and Craig Rock-Marshall attacked their victim beside a pub in Middlesbrough on 8 August last year, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The man was knocked to the ground, repeatedly beaten and threatened with stabbing, Judge Nathan Adams said.

Green, 46, who had denied robbery but was found guilty by jurors, was jailed for five-and-a-half years. Rock-Marshall, 32, and Blacklock, 36, were jailed for 36 and 33 months respectively after admitting their involvement.

Judge Adams said the victim and his friend had been looking for their accommodation when they were "ambushed" by the three men.

He said the attackers "closed off any escape" before the robbery and then fled to other parts of Middlesbrough where they made a "poor attempt" to change their clothes.

The judge said Green, of Dennison Street in Stockton, had an "appalling" criminal record with multiple convictions for burglary and robbery.

Rock-Marshall, of Hadleigh Walk in Ingleby Barwick, also had previous convictions but not as many as Green, the judge said.

Blacklock, of Clifton Gardens in North Shields, played a lesser role in the actual attack but still bore a "significant responsibility" for the ambush, the judge said.

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