Jail for robber who targeted students

A robber who targeted two students as they made their way home has been jailed.

Mathew Lunt, aged 37, targeted the two young men as they walked along Arthur Street, Nottingham, shortly after 6.45pm on 23 November last year.

Lunt, who was homeless at the time of the incident, intimated to his victims that he was carrying a knife in his waste-band.

After calmly walking them to a nearby cashpoint he was given £20 in cash.

Lunt, already a convicted robber, was identified by detectives after using an almost identical method in previous offences.

He finally pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday (23 May).

Appearing via video-link from HMP Nottingham, Lunt was jailed for three years and eight months.

Detective Constable Hannah Wilson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“This was an extremely frightening experience for the two victims who firmly believed that Lunt had a knife in his possession and that he would turn against them if they didn’t do what he said.

“Ultimately the amount of money involved in this case is small, but the impact Lunt’s actions had on these young men was anything but.

“What made this case even worse was that Lunt had previously committed an almost identical crime.

“I am pleased he has now been jailed and hope this result will provide at least some comfort to the victims.”