Bike thieves mocked tragic murder of officer in sick taunt

Bike thieves who threw missiles, boiling water and radiators at police arresting them mocked tragic murder of officer in sick taunt

• Thugs tried to blow up gas meter, throwing radiators and sofa at police officers 
• One defendant, Vuitton Robbins, reportedly made sick joke about murdered cop 

Bike thieves have been jailed for throwing missiles, boiling water and radiators at police who came to arrest them at their flat, while also making a sick taunt about the death of an officer.

The thugs even tried to set fire to the gas meter at the entrance of the property, hoping it would cause an explosion.

The violent stand-off lasted for four hours and caused about £5,000 worth of damage to the flat, with items such as the microwave and sofa being thrown down the stairs in an attempt to barricade the property.

Vuitton Robbins, 18, known as Tom, and Akay Coaker, 20, were sentenced at Reading Crown Court Friday, August 4, for several counts of thefts, burglary, and violent disorder offences.

A third defendant, Reiss James, 21, was also due to be sentenced but his hearing has been adjourned due to the delay in obtaining a pre-sentence report.

PC Harper was killed after responding to a report of a burglary when he was dragged behind a car for a mile

The violent disorder incident occurred on December 8 last year in Reading, Berkshire, at flat 145A on Caversham Road. Pictured, a general view of Caversham Road, Reading

During the stand-off, Robbins could be heard shouting: ‘An officer is getting murdered, don’t worry it’s a Newbury thing!

‘Come on, get in here, let’s play. There’s no way you’re getting in here, I’ll blow your head off.’

Prosecution barrister Mark Trafford said this was in reference to PC Andrew Harper who was killed in Sulhamstead, Berkshire, on August 15, 2019, The Telegraph reported.

Harper was killed after responding to a report of a burglary when he was dragged behind a car for a mile.

The violent disorder incident occurred on December 8 last year in Reading, Berkshire, at flat 145A on Caversham Road.

Police arrived at the address at about 5.40 am to arrest the three men for a string of bike and electric bike thefts across Berkshire and Oxfordshire.

But instead of surrendering, the three men barricaded the door and began to launch missiles at police officers on the street.

Two radiators were torn off the walls of their flats and thrown out their window, with one of them hitting an officer on the head.

Fortunately, the officer’s injury was not life-threatening.

Police had to quickly close the road and a nearby primary school was forced to shut down for the day because of the disorder caused by the men.

After four hours, the men were eventually arrested and remanded in custody.

Judge Sarah Campbell, sentencing at Reading Crown Court yesterday, heard that Robbins was the main instigator, with Reiss providing him support.

Coaker, on the other hand, was previously acquitted of violent disorder by a jury but did plead guilty to damaging the flat during the incident.

Robbins pleaded guilty to six thefts to an estimated value of £19,748.98 and five burglaries to the proven value of £10,360.

One of the defendants could be heard making a sick taunt about Andrew Harper who was killed in the line of duty. Pictured, PC Harper and his widow

He also admitted arson, criminal damage and two counts of attempted grievous bodily harm.

James pleaded guilty to seven thefts to the estimated value of £18,289.98 and five burglaries to the proven value of £3,860. He also admitted violent disorder and criminal damage.

Defending Robbins, Nadia Chbat said he was ’emotionally volatile’ at the time of the offence and had only resisted arrest in attempts to see his daughter being born.

She said: ‘He has expressed some regret. He has come from a difficult background and has always felt he must commit offences to make money.’

But Judge Sarah Campbell decided to jail Robbins, of Amity Street in Reading, for five years and six months in a youth offenders’ institution.

Coaker, of Benson Close, Reading, was sentenced to 22 months in a youth offenders’ institution.

James, of Shirley Avenue, also in Reading, will be sentenced on September 6.

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