Defence pleas for a non-custodial sentence for a t

Defence pleas for a non-custodial sentence for a teenage
blackmailer led astray by a younger cohort, failed to sway an Old
Bailey judge.

And instead of keeping his liberty 19-year-old Saleem Malik
was sent to a young offenders institute for three months for his
involvement in a ‘frightening’ blackmail attempt against another
teenager.

The victim, Salim Paul, 18, told police of the terrifying
ordeal during which his attackers loaded a ‘gun’, held it at his
head and demanded a car stereo, money and a car.

Miss Rhyddian (corr) Willis, prosecuting said Malik and a
16-year-old accomplice Mitesh Mystery (corr) had bought a stolen
car stereo from Mr Paul for pnds stlg 60.

They discovered the stereo did not work and returned to
their victim’s Hackney home for vengeance.

‘No-one cons me and gets away with it,’ Mystery threatened
as he pointed an imitation handgun at Mr Paul’s head.

Miss Willis described how Mystery produced a bullet, put
it in the barrel and ordered Salim Paul to look into the barrel.

The terrified youth was then ordered to hold it to his face
‘between his eyes.

‘
Counsel continued: ‘He was very frightened by this and
thought he was going to be killed.

‘
Mr Paul had claimed that the gun was passed between
Mystery and Malik who also pointed it at his head and threatened
him continuously while demanding a new stereo, money and his
father’s car.

But the judge said she believed Malik’s story
that he never held the gun which Mystery bought on his own
volition.

She also dismissed Mr Paul’s claim that Malik threatened
him with a screwdriver and ‘held him against a wall by the throat
and told him not to mess around.

‘
Malik was arrested shortly after Mr Paul managed to escape to
the house of a neighbour who telephoned police.

He admitted his guilt straightaway saying he ‘accepted
that they (Malik and Mystery) went excessively over the top’.

Robert Banks, defending, said his client was a shy,
hardworking teenager studying for his A-Levels who hoped to
study mechanical engineering at university next year.

In asking for a non-custodial sentence, he cited Malik’s
guilty plea and personal background and Mystery’s obvious
direction of the crime.

‘This was not a door of the court plea.

He therefore
qualifies for the maximum discount,’ said Mr ABanks
‘Mystery was the instigator.

He took the load from
start to finish.

‘
Mr Banks continued: ‘Very shortly afterwards, my
client realised how wrong it was.

‘
Malik’s father, Riaz, a mechanical engineer, gave
evidence on his son’s behalf, saying their move from Canada
two years ago meant Malik had few friends and little social
life.

The teenager spent two to three hours a night
studying so he could follow in his father’s professional
footsteps, Mr Malik said.

‘He has been in a state of shock since the day of the
offence.

He’s more withdrawn and very worried.

‘
Mr Malik continued: ‘He’s very embarrassed and ashamed.

His mother is in shock.

I think he feels he’s disappointed her.

‘
Counsel told the court there was absolutely no chance
Malik would re-offend.

‘At the last court hearing he was ashen faced and totally
overwhelmed,’ Mr Banks said.

In sentencing, Judge Goddard said ‘I accept that Mystery
was the leading light in the matter but that cannot absolve your
responsibilty.

‘
She added: ‘You cannot resolve arguments over a broken
stereo by using a gun you thought was real and threatening the
victim in the way your did.

‘
Judge Goddard sentenced Malik, of Beehive Road, Ilford,
Essex, to three months jail.

Earlier this year, Mystery appeared
in a youth court and was sentenced to 160 hours community service.

Malik pleaded guilty to blackmail and possession of
an imitation firearm on June 30 this year.

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