Plymouth brothers jailed for one-night robbery spree

Two half-brothers have been jailed after they went on a drunken robbery spree in Greenbank. Former Honicknowle Defence Regiment leader Nathan Danvers and his half brother Barry Hambley appeared at Plymouth Crown Court to be sentenced for their part in the incidents on the evening of January 2 this year.

Danvers, of Union Street, Plymouth and Hambley of Alcester Close, Plymouth were arrested by police following a series of incidents which saw them charged with several offences to which they pleaded guilty. Police said all the incidents took place within less than one kilometre of each other, within a 15 to 20 minute window, the first being in Greenbank Road which saw a 51-year-old targeted.

Prosecutor Tom Faulkner told the court that the pair were "intoxicated", where holding bottles of spirits and targeted people they met along their way. He remarked how Hambley had at some stage that night been stabbed and was walking along, bleeding from his wound before he and his half-brother began to target their victims.

The court heard how 34-year-old Danvers grabbed his first victim, patting him down and then told them "I've got a knife" before pushing him up against a wall. Hambley also grabbed the man, smearing his blood onto him. The man was able to push Danvers off and was able to get away, suffering a cut to his arm and bruises but nothing had been stolen from him.

The next victim was in Monica Walk where Danvers confronted him, asking him for a cigarette. When the man replied that he did not smoke and tried to go around the pair, Danvers remarked "why have you got to be like that" before grabbing the man and looming over him. Danvers then told the man "I'm going to smash your face in" three times.

The man - who the court heard was autistic and had been left badly affected by the incident - attempted to diffuse the situation and walked off, warning others he came across saw of the two aggressive men ahead of them.

Two more young men were Danvers and Hambley's next targets. One was on a bicycle and the other was on a skateboard. Danvers grabbed one them and threw him to the floor before repeatedly punching him in the face. Meanwhile Hambley told the other victim "I've been stabbed and I need money".

When the victim replied "f*** off, I don't have any money" he noted Hambley still had a bottle of vodka in his hand. The victim reached out and smacked the bottle from Hambley's hand, causing it to smash on the ground which resulted in Danvers getting off of the man he was beating, affording him a moment's opportunity to struggle free and get to his feet.

Danvers and Hambley then walked off towards the exit of Freedom Fields, with Danvers snatching the victim's skateboard. The court heard when it was demanded back, Danvers replied "what are you going to do about it?"

Police were called and two detectives later scoured the area, finding Danvers drunkenly riding a bicycle along Mount Gould Road. He was swerving erratically and when he fell from the bike the officers arrested him - despite Danvers attempting to resist.

Danvers was taken to Charles Cross police station where he was searched and police found 8.36g of cannabis and a quantity of pills. While at the station in the custody suite Danvers headbutted a police officer in the face, leaving them feeling concussed.

Mr Faulkner said Danvers had 33 convictions for 48 offences, including robbery, burglary, theft and actual bodily harm. The court was told Danvers was on post-sentence supervision at the time of the latest robbery spree. Hambley had 38 convictions to his name for 66 offences, mainly low level thefts, but also battery and breach offences.

Judge Matthew Turner said Danvers had to be sentenced for six offences he had pleaded guilty to - attempt robbery, robbery, battery, assault an emergency worker, possession of cannabis and the breach, while Hambley was to be sentenced to two counts of attempt robbery, to which he had pleaded guilty, although far later then his half brother.

He told Danvers: "You have a terrible record" dating back to his youth while Hambley had "a very poor record".

He handed Danvers a total sentence of three years for his offences and Hambley was given a 18 month jail sentence. The two men were told they would serve half before being released, although the time they had spend on remand would count towards their sentence.

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