Bike thieves who fought off police claimed they were murdering an officer in a reference to the killing of PC Andrew Harper, a court heard.
Vuitton Robbins, 18, known as Tom, and Akay Coaker, 20, were sentenced on Friday 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.
Reading Crown Court heard they threw missiles, boiling water, and radiators at police in an act of “pure hatred”.
The young men even tried to set fire to the gas meter at the entrance of the property, hoping it would cause an explosion.
One of the defendants could be heard shouting: “An officer is getting murdered, don’t worry, it’s a Newbury thing!” – referring to the death of PC Harper who was dragged behind a car for a mile by burglars in 2019.
Violent stand-off lasts four hours
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 having been thrown down the stairs in an attempt to barricade the property.
The incident occurred on December 8 last year at a flat on Caversham Road in Reading, Berkshire.
Police arrived at the address at about 5.40am 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.
Missiles were soon followed by two radiators they threw out the window, with one of them hitting an officer on the head. The officer’s injury was not life-threatening.
The men also hurled glass items, plant pots, a kettle, and boiling water at officers. 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.
They then proceeded to try and ignite the gas meter at the entrance of the property, hoping it would cause an explosion, or get officers closer to the building so that they could throw more missiles at them.
During the stand-off, Robbins could be heard shouting abuse at police officers.
He said: “Come on, get in here, let’s play. There’s no way you’re getting in here, I’ll blow your head off.”
He also shouted: “An officer is getting murdered, don’t worry, it’s a Newbury thing!”
Mark Trafford, the barrister who prosecuted the sentencing of Robbins and Coaker on Friday, said this comment was in reference to PC Harper who was killed near Sulhamstead, Berkshire, on Aug 15 2019.
Harper was responding to a report of a burglary when he was dragged behind a car for a mile, causing his death.
‘Pure act of hatred towards police’
Robbins, of Amity Street, shouted other abuse towards officers, leading to one constable describing the incident as a “pure act of hatred towards police”.
After a four-hour stand-off, the men were eventually arrested and remanded in custody.
Judge Sarah Campbell, sentencing, 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. 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.
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 Sept 6.
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