TWO 18-year-old men and a 16-year-old boy have been sent to a Young Offenders Institution for two and a half years over a knifepoint robbery.

The three youths pulled a flick knife on an 18-year-old walking in Fourth Avenue near the junction with Pasture Road, Goole, who was on his way home from a night out last October 13.

Sean Marshall, of Moorland Road, Goole, Patrick Nolan, of Swinefleet Road, Goole, and the 16-year-old who cannot be named, demanded the man's wallet and money, and made off with £20.

Police said two of the youths had also been seen stealing lager from a local supermarket, and all three had upset residents in the Goole area prior to the robbery. Following an investigation by Humberside CID, the youths pleaded guilty prior to a trial, and are now in custody.

Detective Constable Wendy Breeze said: “These three men caused havoc in Goole that evening, which involved stealing alcohol and then generally causing nuisance until they found a victim to scare and threaten.

“The knife point robbery has had a tremendous impact on the victim, his confidence has been shattered, he now makes conscious decisions to not do certain things, in fear this may happen again.

"Despite the fear, the victim showed great courage coming forward and luckily the offenders decided to plead guilty at the eleventh hour, so the victim was not made to go into the witness box and re-live his ordeal. I am pleased with the sentencing result and genuinely hope the three lads will use this time to reflect on their wrong doing and show remorse for what they did to this young man.”