'Knife held to my throat', man tells Telford robbery case jury

The witness, who was giving evidence from behind a curtain to protect his identity, was speaking during the trial of Ismail Mahmood, 19, and Jonathon Benbow, 33, at Shrewsbury Crown Court.

Both men deny two counts of robbery and one of attempted robbery.

Mahmood, of Hurleybrook Way, Leegomery, Telford, has admitted a charge of common assault while Benbow, of Tunbridge Drive, Newcastle, has denied one count of the same offence.

Andrew Wallace, prosecuting, said the charges all related to incidents late on the evening of December 16, and in the early hours of the following morning.

One victim told the court how he was walking home with his girlfriend when they were approached by four men in a black Hyundai hatchback asking for directions.

The man told the jury that he had started to get concerned that the request for directions was a ruse.

He said: “As she was trying to give him directions I tried to usher her along, to hurry up, because I felt uneasy about the situation and that’s when he turned to me and said ‘I am going to kill you’.”

Two men had got out of the vehicle, one going towards the man and another towards his girlfriend, he said.

See also:

• Knife gang drove around Telford to rob victims, court told

The man told the court: “As one man went towards my girlfriend I decided to move forwards, that is when I had a blade put to my neck.”

Responding to questioning from Mr Wallace the man told how his robber had demanded that he hand over money.

He told the court: “He said ‘Give me your money, you had better not lie to me’ and more threats of stabbing.”

The man handed over £300 and said the attackers decided to leave his phone after deciding that they did not want it.

The court heard how the men were said to be pleased with the amount of money they had taken.

He said: “They were clearly very excited when they realised how much money they had managed to get off me when they sped off down the road.”

The trial continues.