JAIL FOR HILLSBOROUGH DELIVERY DRIVER ROBBER

A SHEFFIELD man is starting a five year jail sentence for his part in a violent robbery, which targeted a takeaway delivery driver in the city earlier this year.

Ian Kleute, 19, formerly of Merton Lane, Sheffield, pleaded guilty to robbery and a second charge of attempted robbery in October.

On November 29, he was sentenced to five years in prison at Sheffield Crown Court, of which three years were robbery, one year for attempted robbery and one year for triggering his suspended sentence.

On September 9, a delivery driver was making a stop off on Langsett Road in the Hillsborough area of the city when he was flagged down by three men, one of which being Kleute.

Winding down his window to speak to them, the trio claimed they had ordered the takeaway, and the driver got out of the vehicle to get the food from the boot.

Investigating officer DC Ryan Griffiths said: “At this point, the driver was threatened by the three men and punched in the face multiple times, causing serious facial injuries. They demanded the car keys and continued to attack their victim. As the driver fell to the floor, the men went through his pockets taking his wallet and phone.

“Whilst being subjected to this brutal attack, he managed to tell them that the keys were in the car and the three men took his vehicle. Our officers found the car a short time later, after seeing it being driven erratically and then abandoned.

“Just days later, Kleute was involved in a second incident, where a man was attacked on Langsett Road, again by three men. The victim in this case managed to break free from the group. Kleute was later identified on CCTV captured that night and arrested soon afterwards, footage on his own phone also linked him to the incident.

“In both cases, the victims were innocently going about their daily lives, one was a takeaway delivery driver earning a living and the other was a young man walking home from the pub. They were both brutally attacked by Kleute and I am pleased that he has been sentenced accordingly.

“In Sheffield we are working hard to bring people like Kleute to justice, and I hope the result today demonstrates that to the public.”