We are seeing increasing numbers of clients charged with this offence which may simply be explained as theft with the use of threats or violence. So someone demanding menacingly of another “Give me your mobile phone” may well find him or herself before the Court.

This offence is charged under the s.8 of the Theft Act 1968 and can only be heard in the Crown Court.

More precisely

A person is guilty of robbery if he steals, and immediately before or at the time of doing so, and in order to do so, he uses force on any person or puts or seeks to put any person in fear of being then and there subjected to force.

The elements which need to be made out by the prosecution in order to secure a conviction are as for theft with the added use or threat of violence.

Theft is charged under s1-6 Theft Act 1968 and is made out when a person

Dishonestly appropriates property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other of it

If convicted, a defendant could face a term of life imprisonment for the most serious of offences.

At MTA we shall do all that we can to ensure you are found not guilty, and if a guilty plea is the only option, we shall endeavour to the best of our abilities to reduce the sentence to very minimum.