0:00:02 > 0:00:04Someone gets mugged once every two minutes in Britain -
0:00:04 > 0:00:07and if you're between 16 and 24
0:00:07 > 0:00:09it's six times more likely to happen to you.
0:00:09 > 0:00:13Just had a recent theft snatch,
0:00:13 > 0:00:16we've got PCSOs in the area chasing the suspect...
0:00:16 > 0:00:20Mugging has become so common, fewer than half of all victims even bother
0:00:20 > 0:00:25to report it to the police, but it's a crime that can be devastating.
0:00:25 > 0:00:30This is the story of three victims whose lives changed forever
0:00:30 > 0:00:33when they were all violently mugged.
0:00:33 > 0:00:35There was like, a loud bang and a crack.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38I didn't think anything of the crack, but later that turned out
0:00:38 > 0:00:39to be my nose being broken at the top.
0:00:39 > 0:00:42I just remember one big punch to my head that he did.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44I went straight down to the floor after that.
0:00:44 > 0:00:47The pain of the injury was nothing
0:00:47 > 0:00:52in comparison to the mental pain afterwards.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56They describe their attacks, the aftermath,
0:00:56 > 0:00:59and we'll discover whether any of the victims succeeded
0:00:59 > 0:01:00in their quest for justice.
0:01:00 > 0:01:02I just saw two or three of them -
0:01:02 > 0:01:06turned around and stared at me while I were walking in the door.
0:01:07 > 0:01:10And, with access to one of Britain's busiest
0:01:10 > 0:01:15street robbery units, we'll be on the front line of the police's battle with muggers.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29The Street Robbery Unit are on night patrol in their unmarked police car
0:01:29 > 0:01:33in Lewisham, South London - an area with one of the highest rates
0:01:33 > 0:01:34of mugging in Britain.
0:01:36 > 0:01:39It's their job to be the first on the scene of any street robbery,
0:01:39 > 0:01:41to help mugging victims, and catch their attackers.
0:01:41 > 0:01:43When they rob someone
0:01:43 > 0:01:46they're not looking particularly at that person -
0:01:46 > 0:01:48they may look at them and see
0:01:48 > 0:01:51an easy target or a victim, but they...
0:01:51 > 0:01:55It's nothing personal against this person.
0:01:55 > 0:01:57They look at them, and they see them on a phone and they...
0:01:57 > 0:02:02see some quick money that can be made, so they'll go and snatch that phone
0:02:02 > 0:02:08or they'll use some force to take their property, they'll quickly go and sell it, get 20 quid...
0:02:11 > 0:02:13- INTERVIEWER:- What have you seen?
0:02:13 > 0:02:18Just a lad - probably nothing, he's just following erm...
0:02:18 > 0:02:22He was following a lady quite closely.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Just going to make sure that
0:02:24 > 0:02:29he passes her, and nothing happens.
0:02:30 > 0:02:35Getting later in the evening, people have had a few drinks,
0:02:35 > 0:02:38all they want to do is get home -
0:02:38 > 0:02:42iPod on, unaware of their surroundings, really.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44They can even be followed for quite a long distance,
0:02:44 > 0:02:47quite a few roads, until it's quieter,
0:02:47 > 0:02:48and before they know it they've got
0:02:48 > 0:02:53a suspect or two wanting to take their phone off them.
0:03:19 > 0:03:21Aidan is a 21-year-old philosophy student
0:03:21 > 0:03:24in his final year at Leeds University.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29It was a Wednesday - standard university day,
0:03:29 > 0:03:31finished my lectures normal time.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33I had an interview that Friday
0:03:33 > 0:03:36for a really important job that I really wanted,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40and I was over the moon, I was in a really good mood that day.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43It was on the 26th of October 2011
0:03:43 > 0:03:45that Aidan was taking his normal route home
0:03:45 > 0:03:48at 6:30 in the evening.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53So I walked through the park - it's a well-known student thoroughfare,
0:03:53 > 0:03:56thousands of students will walk through it every single day
0:03:56 > 0:03:58along the same path that I was walking along.
0:03:58 > 0:04:03I texted my girlfriend to say I was on the way home,
0:04:03 > 0:04:05It was dark and I was thinking,
0:04:05 > 0:04:07"I need to be a little bit on guard here,"
0:04:07 > 0:04:09so I took my headphones out, turned my music off.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14There was a guy in white in front of me, and I remember thinking
0:04:14 > 0:04:17"If I can walk near him, I'll probably be all right."
0:04:17 > 0:04:19And I just lost focus for a minute
0:04:19 > 0:04:22and I started walking faster, and I got past that guy in white,
0:04:22 > 0:04:23and I suddenly found myself by myself.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27And I heard, like, this rustling in the bushes,
0:04:27 > 0:04:31and started to see the silhouettes people moving about and thought,
0:04:31 > 0:04:33"That's really weird."
0:04:33 > 0:04:36There was about five of them around me,
0:04:36 > 0:04:39down the path I could see there was about ten of them...
0:04:39 > 0:04:43I could see that they had their hoods up, all of them,
0:04:43 > 0:04:45and they were wearing masks -
0:04:45 > 0:04:49covering the outlines of their face you couldn't see anything.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51I was thinking, "Shall I turn around and run?"
0:04:51 > 0:04:55Within a second of thinking that, someone kicked me
0:04:55 > 0:04:59and I stumbled forwards then, and they started attacking me.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05There was like, a loud bang and a crack.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09I didn't think anything of the crack, but later that turned out
0:05:09 > 0:05:11to be my nose being broken at the top.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16He was really going for it, he was absolutely laying into my face.
0:05:16 > 0:05:19With the punches you could time it, and he was literally just
0:05:19 > 0:05:21standing there swinging his arms -
0:05:21 > 0:05:23every single one hitting me in the face.
0:05:23 > 0:05:26I was getting punched from other sides as well, there were people
0:05:26 > 0:05:28sort of all around me hitting me by this point.
0:05:31 > 0:05:34So I thought, "There's no point in trying to fight back,"
0:05:34 > 0:05:38so I was like, "You need to start running in... You know, like, run -
0:05:38 > 0:05:42because this is going to end really bad for you if you don't.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45And I started running, and within about two footsteps
0:05:45 > 0:05:50I could hear that there was someone like, right there behind me.
0:05:50 > 0:05:53And this was like, probably the scariest part of it
0:05:53 > 0:05:56because I thought I wasn't going to get away, and I thought that was it.
0:05:56 > 0:06:01And I can still hear his footsteps, really, and I can still hear him breathing.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05And he was right there, like...right there. On me.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09There's just that constant,
0:06:09 > 0:06:11"What's it going to be - is it going to be a knife, a brick to
0:06:11 > 0:06:15"the back of the head, is it going to be a punch, am I going to get tripped again...?"
0:06:15 > 0:06:18It was pitch black, there was no light in that park.
0:06:18 > 0:06:21The only light I could see was the blue lights of the curry house,
0:06:21 > 0:06:24and I saw those, and I didn't even think
0:06:24 > 0:06:29"That's the curry house, you'll be safe" - it was "There's light, go for it."
0:06:29 > 0:06:32I thought, "You're running for something really important here.
0:06:32 > 0:06:33"You're running for your life."
0:06:33 > 0:06:35And I could hear his footsteps,
0:06:35 > 0:06:38and all the time I was thinking "You're not running fast enough,"
0:06:38 > 0:06:40and I shouted for help.
0:06:40 > 0:06:44It didn't come out like a shout, it came out like a guttural scream.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49Aidan managed to outrun his attackers, as they tried to pull his bag from him.
0:06:49 > 0:06:52He escaped with nothing stolen.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56When he reached the curry house, the owner called the police and an ambulance.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58And I looked down at myself,
0:06:58 > 0:07:02and I could see there was just blood running off my nose.
0:07:02 > 0:07:05There was blood all the way down my shirt,
0:07:05 > 0:07:08and I'd got bloodstains all the way down there...
0:07:08 > 0:07:12The guy who owned the restaurant was really helpful. He was nice.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16He called the police for me and he called an ambulance,
0:07:16 > 0:07:20and he said "Do you want to clean yourself up in the toilet?"
0:07:20 > 0:07:23So I went in, and erm...
0:07:23 > 0:07:27there was a mirror in there, and that was weird.
0:07:27 > 0:07:28You look into the mirror,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31and what's looking back at you isn't what you'd expected to see.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40And that's when I took the pictures.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42Washing my own blood off my hands...
0:07:42 > 0:07:46Because there was a lot of it on there.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49I was washing it and... the water was just red.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52It was everywhere - it was underneath my fingernails,
0:07:52 > 0:07:54it was on the bracelets I had on my wrist.
0:07:54 > 0:07:58I said to myself, "You're really high, you're just going to crash,"
0:07:58 > 0:08:01and as soon as I thought that, that was it, it just...
0:08:01 > 0:08:06I sat forward and I started crying, and erm...
0:08:06 > 0:08:10it wasn't like anything I'd ever cried like before.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12I wasn't crying because I was sad,
0:08:12 > 0:08:18or cos I was mourning something - it was like, a panic.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22At 6:45, police arrived in the park,
0:08:22 > 0:08:24but the gang had fled
0:08:24 > 0:08:26and Aidan was rushed to hospital by ambulance.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36In Lewisham, it's 11:30 in the evening,
0:08:36 > 0:08:40and the robbery unit have just had a report of a mugging.
0:08:40 > 0:08:44They provide an immediate response to emergency calls like this.
0:08:46 > 0:08:52A member of the public just called in saying she could hear a female screaming, "Help me."
0:08:52 > 0:08:57She's looked out her window and seen ten males running towards
0:08:57 > 0:08:59where this female was screaming.
0:08:59 > 0:09:05We've just had a further call to say that it appears to be that the female has been robbed.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09Two cars from the Street Robbery Unit are responding to the call.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11'The male who's done it has made off.'
0:09:11 > 0:09:16We'll split up. Once we get close to the scene we'll turn the sirens off,
0:09:16 > 0:09:23and go on a silent approach, to have the best chance of sneaking up on any suspects still in the area.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33The female victim was attacked from behind, and dragged along the ground
0:09:33 > 0:09:36as she refused to let go of her bag.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39This is the trouble, they disappear so quick...
0:09:39 > 0:09:45Yeah. We've arrived on scene pretty quick, but as you can see it's fairly quiet.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Yeah, go on...
0:09:48 > 0:09:49The victim is distraught,
0:09:49 > 0:09:53but agrees to be driven around in the other police car
0:09:53 > 0:09:58looking for her mugger. This is the best opportunity to catch him.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02A drive round's something that we do as soon as we possibly can with the victim,
0:10:02 > 0:10:05as long as they're not badly injured and need
0:10:05 > 0:10:09hospital treatment or seen to by medical...
0:10:09 > 0:10:11Then we'll get them in the back of the car.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14They're the ones that have seen the suspect,
0:10:14 > 0:10:19so they'll be the ones that can identify them.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22And the sooner we can get that done the better,
0:10:22 > 0:10:26cos he'll still be wearing the same clothes, hopefully, and still have the property on him.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35The victim believes she has recognised her mugger on a nearby street.
0:10:41 > 0:10:45We've got a victim, and she needs to have a good look.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47So what I suggest is we'll stand you down there,
0:10:47 > 0:10:49and she's going to drive past.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52If you was robbed, we'd be doing exactly the same for you. OK?
0:10:52 > 0:10:56We would take you on a drive round. Just walk down here...
0:11:01 > 0:11:03The victim is driven past the group,
0:11:03 > 0:11:06to see if she recognises any of them as her mugger.
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Right, that's it...
0:11:11 > 0:11:16She's not identified any of you being involved, so thank you for your time.
0:11:16 > 0:11:20The victim did not identify any of the group as her attacker.
0:11:20 > 0:11:25Police enquiries continue, but no arrests have yet been made.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49I started getting involved in crime
0:11:49 > 0:11:54when I was about the age of 11.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56I was really frustrated and angry
0:11:56 > 0:11:59and started to commit crime, robberies on my street.
0:12:00 > 0:12:04I just used to walk around with a ferocious temper,
0:12:04 > 0:12:05and you see someone on their own,
0:12:05 > 0:12:08and you're just influenced in a demonic way
0:12:08 > 0:12:11where your hunger's driving you, you want money,
0:12:11 > 0:12:13it's the want, the lust...
0:12:13 > 0:12:16And you might see someone who looks like they're vulnerable.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19It's about really putting that fear into them
0:12:19 > 0:12:21preferably at the beginning,
0:12:21 > 0:12:24the way you approach them, the way you're dressed.
0:12:24 > 0:12:26You have your hood on, and you might or might not have a knife on you
0:12:26 > 0:12:29but it's really getting that fear into them.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Once they're scared, they'll give you whatever you want.
0:12:52 > 0:12:54So are you in any pain in your arms at all...?
0:12:54 > 0:12:57Ben is 21 and lives in East London,
0:12:57 > 0:13:00where he is studying to become a doctor at Queen Mary University.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04So you're in no pain. Did you have any sensation in your arm and leg,
0:13:04 > 0:13:07- or did that go as well? - No, it was all fuzzy.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11In July 2010, he was the victim of a violent mugging.
0:13:13 > 0:13:15It was the end of year exams,
0:13:15 > 0:13:18which is the most stressful time of the year.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21And then the day you finish,
0:13:21 > 0:13:24it's just such a relief.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27We all went out to the Students' Union
0:13:27 > 0:13:30just so we could all sort of catch up
0:13:30 > 0:13:34and have a few beers and dance around and stuff -
0:13:34 > 0:13:36just have fun for the first time in ages.
0:13:36 > 0:13:38At 1:00am, Ben and Dave left
0:13:38 > 0:13:41to walk the five-minute journey back to Ben's house.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45On way the back from the Union there was a group of guys,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48who were just sort of sitting there, I didn't think anything of it.
0:13:48 > 0:13:54Probably about five of them, sort of stood around chatting.
0:13:54 > 0:14:01We went over to speak to these guys. And it was just kind of...
0:14:01 > 0:14:03As I remember, it was quite friendly.
0:14:03 > 0:14:04It might have...
0:14:04 > 0:14:08No, it was friendly, we were just talking about "What do you do...?"
0:14:08 > 0:14:14Then the phone in Dave's pocket rang, and it was a brand-new iPhone.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19Dave just by instinct pulled it out of his pocket to check it.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23It was odd - the whole atmosphere just changed,
0:14:23 > 0:14:25and for a second it just went dead silent
0:14:25 > 0:14:27and you could almost hear a pin drop.
0:14:30 > 0:14:34One of them challenged me - he said, "How fast can you run?"
0:14:34 > 0:14:39And I run a lot. And I was drunk and I was in really high spirits,
0:14:39 > 0:14:42so I was obviously sort of being the big man, and I said, "Really fast!"
0:14:42 > 0:14:47And then one of them grabbed the phone, and ran off with it.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52Dave just sort of, chased after him.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54And then I was in a bit of a shock then
0:14:54 > 0:14:56because it all happened so fast.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00I saw him run through this tunnel. Went over towards the tunnel,
0:15:00 > 0:15:02and he was nowhere to be found. It was dead silent as well,
0:15:02 > 0:15:05I couldn't hear anyone running or anything.
0:15:05 > 0:15:09So then I was left alone with the remaining four.
0:15:10 > 0:15:13But I didn't feel threatened at that point, because I didn't feel
0:15:13 > 0:15:18they were being antagonistic to me at that point.
0:15:18 > 0:15:21They'd said, "Don't worry, I know where they have gone, we'll walk round
0:15:21 > 0:15:23"and we'll get the phone back."
0:15:23 > 0:15:27And we ended up walking into the middle of this council estate -
0:15:27 > 0:15:33really tall buildings, no street lights around there and it was
0:15:33 > 0:15:37very dark, very quiet, and it was at that point I was a bit apprehensive.
0:15:37 > 0:15:39But we carried on walking,
0:15:39 > 0:15:42as I didn't want to leave Dave by himself anyway,
0:15:42 > 0:15:48and lo and behold they were there, exactly where the group had said they were.
0:15:48 > 0:15:51I said, "Have you got my phone, mate? Where is it?"
0:15:51 > 0:15:54And he said, "Don't worry about that, it's gone."
0:15:54 > 0:15:58They'd gone from being this sort of friendly, chatty bunch
0:15:58 > 0:16:01to sort of, very intimidating.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04We started saying, "No, can we please have it back?"
0:16:04 > 0:16:06and we were making a bit of a racket at this point.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10The whole group of them started to get quite annoyed with us
0:16:10 > 0:16:13for making a noise, probably cos we were attracting so much attention...
0:16:13 > 0:16:18It was as if they'd had enough, and they were done humouring us.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20And then something just, like, flipped and changed.
0:16:22 > 0:16:27And then the next thing I know, the guy standing closest to me had headbutted me in the face.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31And then I turned back round, and there's sort of a guy
0:16:31 > 0:16:33right in front of me
0:16:33 > 0:16:37who then sort of smashed me round the side of the head with a brick.
0:16:44 > 0:16:46And I was just knocked to the floor, knocked out cold.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51The next thing I remember I just came to -
0:16:51 > 0:16:55my nose is bleeding and I've got blood all down my shirt, and my face hurts.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58Takes me a while to orientate myself,
0:16:58 > 0:17:01but I sort of immediately sobered up,
0:17:01 > 0:17:05then I notice that Ben is lying on the floor facing away from me,
0:17:05 > 0:17:09with a puddle of blood around his head, and he's snoring.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14I was petrified that he was in a coma or something,
0:17:14 > 0:17:16cos he's obviously completely out of it,
0:17:16 > 0:17:18he's not stirring, he's not moving...
0:17:23 > 0:17:25So I came round for a moment -
0:17:25 > 0:17:31first of all I remember feeling wet on my face,
0:17:31 > 0:17:35and I didn't know why, and I opened my eyes. And erm...
0:17:35 > 0:17:38sort of saw Dave
0:17:38 > 0:17:42underneath this street light, with sort of an orange glow
0:17:42 > 0:17:44on Dave's head.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48And he was sobbing with tears,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51saying "Ben, you'll be all right. It's OK, you'll be all right."
0:17:51 > 0:17:55And I didn't know what had happened to me at that point.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58I remember asking Dave, "Why is it wet?"
0:17:58 > 0:18:02And he told me it was blood,
0:18:02 > 0:18:07and the wave of panic that came over me then,
0:18:07 > 0:18:10I've never felt so vulnerable in my life, sort of...
0:18:10 > 0:18:12lying there in a pool of blood.
0:18:14 > 0:18:17So I remember running up to Ben, and trying to carry him,
0:18:17 > 0:18:20trying to pick him away. Get him away from the situation.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23And I remember getting his blood all over my hands,
0:18:23 > 0:18:25I was covered in his blood...
0:18:25 > 0:18:27Ben was taken to hospital by ambulance.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29He didn't regain consciousness
0:18:29 > 0:18:31until 6:00am.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35I remember coming round in A&E.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39I thought... In my head it was almost as if I was waking up,
0:18:39 > 0:18:42so I sort of expected to be in my bedroom.
0:18:42 > 0:18:43So I looked round and then
0:18:43 > 0:18:46Dave was sat there looking quite tired,
0:18:46 > 0:18:50cos I think by then it was the next morning.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55And I lifted my hand up and I had all these wires connected
0:18:55 > 0:19:01to my hand and I had no idea, I had to ask Dave what had happened.
0:19:01 > 0:19:05But he seemed quite happy when I came to.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07When I saw that Ben was all right
0:19:07 > 0:19:10there was just this massive sort of tide of relief,
0:19:10 > 0:19:15and I just remember thinking, "Fantastic, he's all right."
0:19:15 > 0:19:18I received four fractures around my eye,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21two above and two below,
0:19:21 > 0:19:24and I can't open my left eye as much
0:19:24 > 0:19:26especially when I'm quite tired,
0:19:26 > 0:19:29and so I assume I had some sort of nerve damage as well,
0:19:29 > 0:19:33and just the biggest black eye you ever saw -
0:19:33 > 0:19:36my eye didn't open for two weeks afterwards.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40After being kept in hospital overnight for observation,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42Ben was allowed home.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01What we find in Lewisham after a robbery...
0:20:01 > 0:20:04it depends if the robbery suspects live in that area -
0:20:04 > 0:20:07if they don't, they'll be straight on public transport
0:20:07 > 0:20:10to get out that area back to where they feel comfortable,
0:20:10 > 0:20:14ie a friend's home address or their home address.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19And either get rid of the property very quickly -
0:20:19 > 0:20:21if it's not their first time,
0:20:21 > 0:20:24they'll know generally where to get rid of the property,
0:20:24 > 0:20:27be it a phone or jewellery.
0:20:27 > 0:20:31After reports of school students being targeted by muggers,
0:20:31 > 0:20:33the Lewisham Street Robbery Unit are patrolling the area.
0:20:33 > 0:20:36We're police officers.
0:20:36 > 0:20:38Don't worry.
0:20:38 > 0:20:44Basically, there's been a spate of schoolkids in this area getting robbed,
0:20:44 > 0:20:46after school and in their lunch hour.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50You looked a little bit suspicious cos you're walking up and down...
0:20:50 > 0:20:54It looks like you're acting a bit shady. Just want to speak to you.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57- So where are you going now? - Just going to go to the shops.
0:20:57 > 0:21:02- Shops are that way.- I'm going to give you a quick search for weapons.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05Have you got anything on you?
0:21:05 > 0:21:08How many phones have you got, two? Let's have a look at that one.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10Just going to do a check...
0:21:12 > 0:21:14- Is it contract? - I think so.- You think so.
0:21:15 > 0:21:19- Where did you buy it from, a store? - INDISTINCT REPLY
0:21:19 > 0:21:22It's 3-5-8-4...
0:21:22 > 0:21:257-3-0-3...
0:21:25 > 0:21:30The police have a database, with the details of any mobile phone reported stolen,
0:21:30 > 0:21:33which they can check when they stop and search suspects.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37OVER RADIO: 'No, it's not registered, and there's no reports on it.'
0:21:38 > 0:21:41Superb, thanks very much for your help.
0:21:41 > 0:21:44Thanks for your time, yeah? Have a good day, won't you?
0:21:44 > 0:21:48Cheers, mate. Take care. See, shops ARE that way...
0:21:48 > 0:21:49HE LAUGHS
0:21:57 > 0:21:59I mean, when you're doing a robbery,
0:21:59 > 0:22:04you actually don't think of the consequences till afterwards,
0:22:04 > 0:22:06despite when you attack them or assault them.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08Afterwards, you think about,
0:22:08 > 0:22:12"Actually is that person still alive? Are they all right?"
0:22:12 > 0:22:14Afterwards maybe you think about that.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17At the time you're just thinking, "I want the money, the phone..."
0:22:17 > 0:22:20It's kind of like you're an animal really.
0:22:20 > 0:22:22A bit of it's for fun, you're getting adrenaline rushing...
0:22:22 > 0:22:25It can be scary because you're always thinking about
0:22:25 > 0:22:28people looking, if you get caught, the police,
0:22:28 > 0:22:31and these kind of things are a factor.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39On the 18th of August 2011,
0:22:39 > 0:22:4318-year-old Richard was violently mugged by a gang for his phone
0:22:43 > 0:22:44in Halifax, West Yorkshire.
0:22:46 > 0:22:51- 'Hiya. Has it happened now?' - 'Just happened now, yeah.'
0:22:51 > 0:22:53'Did you get a description of them at all?'
0:22:53 > 0:22:55'There were about four or five of them, I think.'
0:22:55 > 0:22:58'Anything about their clothing that stood out?'
0:22:58 > 0:23:00'Hoodies and tracksuits and stuff.
0:23:02 > 0:23:04'They've stolen my iPhone 4.'
0:23:04 > 0:23:07'Right, OK...'
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Just before Richard made this call to the police,
0:23:10 > 0:23:14he'd been on his way to meet his friends for a night out.
0:23:14 > 0:23:18I'd booked the day off work so I could get my A Level results.
0:23:18 > 0:23:21And I got what I needed for my job interviews and stuff.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23I wasn't really a big fan of uni,
0:23:23 > 0:23:28so I just thought I'd apply for some jobs or something.
0:23:28 > 0:23:34Everybody that I knew who lived in Halifax was going into the town centre on results night,
0:23:34 > 0:23:39and hit the clubs. I booked the next day off so I could have a lie-in.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44At 9:45, Richard left his home to walk into town.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50I had my headphones in. Everything was fine, I were cool,
0:23:50 > 0:23:51excited to go celebrate my results.
0:23:51 > 0:23:56And I saw this guy walking up to me, and he had his hood up,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59so we got a bit closer and I thought, "I'll take my headphones out."
0:23:59 > 0:24:06He stopped. I went, "You all right?" He goes, "Yeah. Give me your phone."
0:24:06 > 0:24:09I went, "What? Give you my phone?"
0:24:09 > 0:24:12And he just went, "Yeah," and he just reached into my pocket.
0:24:12 > 0:24:16And I just pushed his hand away straight away,
0:24:16 > 0:24:18and as soon as I did that he just
0:24:18 > 0:24:20smacked me round the face something shocking.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29I thought, "Right, let's run away."
0:24:29 > 0:24:31I crossed the road,
0:24:31 > 0:24:36and I saw three other guys jogging along trying to catch up or something.
0:24:36 > 0:24:38I thought, "Oh, God. What are they going to do now?"
0:24:38 > 0:24:43And as a teenage boy wears their pants quite low,
0:24:43 > 0:24:46your pants sort of start to fall down,
0:24:46 > 0:24:48which'll just stop your running.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51And I just thought, "Right. I'll just stop."
0:24:51 > 0:24:53And as soon as I stopped they were just right behind me.
0:24:53 > 0:24:57They were all trying to go in my back pockets, front pockets...
0:24:57 > 0:25:02And I think it was the oldest guy, cos he was bigger and more muscly -
0:25:02 > 0:25:04I just remember one big punch to my head that he did.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09I went straight down to the floor after that.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Put my hands away, let them just go in my pockets.
0:25:13 > 0:25:15They got my phone, I must have been on the floor
0:25:15 > 0:25:19for another 30 seconds cos when I got up they were in the distance.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26Richard had no idea how badly hurt he actually was.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29I thought, "Right, I might as well walk home now."
0:25:29 > 0:25:32So I started to walk home and I had this massive headache.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36So much of a headache. Never had one like that in my life.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40More concerned about catching his muggers than getting
0:25:40 > 0:25:42the medical attention he desperately needed,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46Richard went to a nearby house to call the police.
0:25:46 > 0:25:49I passed out, I was sick.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52Passed out again. I don't know how many times it happened...
0:25:52 > 0:25:58But I was passed out when the police people came,
0:25:58 > 0:26:00and the ambulance.
0:26:00 > 0:26:03At 10:30, Richard was taken to Halifax A&E department
0:26:03 > 0:26:07by ambulance, accompanied by the police, who were
0:26:07 > 0:26:10becoming increasingly concerned by his injuries.
0:26:10 > 0:26:14He'd deteriorated on the way in the ambulance, so when I saw him
0:26:16 > 0:26:20I couldn't believe the state he was in.
0:26:20 > 0:26:22He didn't seem to know we were there,
0:26:22 > 0:26:25and he was sort of writhing around on the bed.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30And me and his dad were trying to hold him and reassure him
0:26:30 > 0:26:32that we were there and it would be OK.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35But then we noticed that one of his eyes had dilated,
0:26:35 > 0:26:39and we kept saying "Should he be like this, should he be shaking?"
0:26:39 > 0:26:42And then about five other people came in
0:26:42 > 0:26:46and started taking his temperature and taking his blood pressure.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Richard had been struck on the head with such force in the attack,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52that a blood vessel in his brain ripped open.
0:26:52 > 0:26:54His condition continued to deteriorate,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57and at 1:00am he was rushed 20 miles by ambulance
0:26:57 > 0:27:01to a specialist unit in Leeds for an emergency operation.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05He had a massive bleed on the left side of his head,
0:27:05 > 0:27:09and they would have to...
0:27:09 > 0:27:15Made me feel sick to listen to him. ..shave this side of his head,
0:27:15 > 0:27:19remove part of his skull, and it would be in like, a question mark,
0:27:19 > 0:27:23take this part of his skull off, drain the blood,
0:27:23 > 0:27:26check for swelling and everything, put it back.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30I just couldn't believe him. It was like a nightmare,
0:27:30 > 0:27:37and I just couldn't believe that my son, my youngest child,
0:27:37 > 0:27:40was going through that horrendous thing.
0:27:43 > 0:27:48Doctors gave Richard only a 1 in 10 chance of living through the night.
0:27:48 > 0:27:51He survived, but was kept sedated
0:27:51 > 0:27:54in an induced coma for ten days,
0:27:54 > 0:27:56in an effort to control the pressure on his brain
0:27:56 > 0:27:59and prevent further damage.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02The days went on and he wasn't coming round.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04He was still heavily sedated.
0:28:06 > 0:28:10I started worrying then about, "Will we get Richard back?"
0:28:10 > 0:28:14Cos at first we didn't imagine the implications
0:28:14 > 0:28:15of what this could be.
0:28:15 > 0:28:20Then my mind started thinking how Richard would come out of this.
0:28:20 > 0:28:24And all we did was talk to him, hold his hand, tell him who was here...
0:28:27 > 0:28:31The next thing I remember was in hospital -
0:28:31 > 0:28:33I just remember my arm being up there, I couldn't move it at all.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36Tried to pull it down, and I couldn't.
0:28:36 > 0:28:38I couldn't say anything,
0:28:38 > 0:28:43couldn't move, couldn't talk or smile or...anything.
0:28:43 > 0:28:46We were so relieved to see him with us,
0:28:46 > 0:28:49because we'd been talking to him for ten days and thinking,
0:28:49 > 0:28:51"Has he heard us, is he aware...?"
0:28:51 > 0:28:56But when he did come round, he started trying to focus,
0:28:56 > 0:29:01and we just kept saying, "We're here, Richard. You're going to be OK. You're in hospital."
0:29:01 > 0:29:04We tried to tell him where he was,
0:29:04 > 0:29:06because we didn't know what he would be able to see
0:29:06 > 0:29:09and how he would understand, with this brain injury.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13What I thought had happened at first was I had fallen off my scooter.
0:29:13 > 0:29:17I didn't know what happened. I just couldn't remember at all in hospital.
0:29:17 > 0:29:22He had to try and speak again, but none of it made sense.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25I couldn't remember the last year, college, work,
0:29:25 > 0:29:29couldn't remember some of my friends' names...
0:29:29 > 0:29:31I was just thinking, everybody I saw,
0:29:31 > 0:29:35I sort of knew that face... "Is that your dad?"
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Yeah, that's your dad. I went, "Hi, Dad."
0:29:40 > 0:29:44Richard's best friend Ben let him shave his head to match his.
0:29:44 > 0:29:47Oh, that's a good sound! That is a good sound...
0:29:47 > 0:29:50Oh, yes!
0:29:50 > 0:29:55'They had to shave my head to get to my brain. Ben said that he'd shave his too.
0:29:55 > 0:30:00'But he sort of waited till I were awake, and it didn't really go well.
0:30:00 > 0:30:05'The video's quite bad, with my left hand falling down and I'm trying to get it up there...
0:30:05 > 0:30:08'And I think I just shaved the front of his head off.'
0:30:08 > 0:30:11BEN LAUGHS
0:30:11 > 0:30:15After four weeks, I remembered what happened,
0:30:15 > 0:30:18I had a few crying fits in hospital,
0:30:18 > 0:30:21but it didn't change the way I thought.
0:30:21 > 0:30:22It didn't really...
0:30:22 > 0:30:27Like, I was still raring to go and get better, trying to move my legs,
0:30:27 > 0:30:29trying to walk, trying to...
0:30:29 > 0:30:34I mean, they thought I'd be in a wheelchair for, like, three months
0:30:34 > 0:30:36I was in for one.
0:30:36 > 0:30:38They said I'd be in hospital for six months, I was in for two.
0:30:38 > 0:30:42You can't put a price on that, it's just great that you're out.
0:30:43 > 0:30:46Richard was discharged on 14th October,
0:30:46 > 0:30:49having spent eight weeks in hospital,
0:30:49 > 0:30:54in which he had to re-learn how to talk, walk and care for himself.
0:30:54 > 0:30:58The gang that stole Richard's phone went on to sell it,
0:30:58 > 0:31:00getting just £40 each.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34The attack on Aidan left him afraid to walk to university again.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38He even found it impossible to go to the shop at the end of his road,
0:31:38 > 0:31:40just 20 metres from his front door.
0:31:41 > 0:31:45It's really frustrating to be in a situation
0:31:45 > 0:31:49where you don't feel like you can leave the house when it's dark.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Obviously, you want to be normal.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56You know, you feel stupid for taking a taxi.
0:31:56 > 0:32:00You know, how many other people take taxis to uni or whatever?
0:32:00 > 0:32:03Can't find a way to walk to get to uni
0:32:03 > 0:32:06or to get out and about without feeling uncomfortable.
0:32:08 > 0:32:14At Christmas, I got really angry about it and started having a really short temper with people.
0:32:14 > 0:32:16And that did start to affect my relationship with people.
0:32:17 > 0:32:21I just got angry about nothing.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24It wasn't my fault, it wasn't their fault,
0:32:24 > 0:32:28but I started to realise when you're being angry for no reason
0:32:28 > 0:32:31and when you're being unreasonable with people,
0:32:31 > 0:32:37you stop yourself and apologise, but yeah, it was very frustrating.
0:32:37 > 0:32:42I got unlucky, but what's to say I wont get unlucky again.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44I don't trust people. You don't trust anyone.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47You don't trust taxi drivers. You get in the car and think
0:32:47 > 0:32:49"Are they going to beat me up and nick my stuff?"
0:32:49 > 0:32:53It's absolute hell. You feel completely trapped.
0:32:53 > 0:32:55I didn't want to leave my room.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59Every single day was a mission getting into uni,
0:32:59 > 0:33:02and your mind is probably the worst thing as well
0:33:02 > 0:33:05because it comes up with scenarios that you wouldn't have thought of -
0:33:05 > 0:33:07of how someone's going to attack you.
0:33:07 > 0:33:11And then you expect it to come, and you're waiting and it doesn't come
0:33:11 > 0:33:15and you're, like, "I just got lucky, where's the next one?"
0:33:17 > 0:33:20I still carry this on me, pretty much all the time.
0:33:20 > 0:33:25It's extremely loud and pretty painful to the ears.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29You just pull that cable there, that pin comes out slightly,
0:33:29 > 0:33:30that sets it off.
0:33:30 > 0:33:34Or you can press the button there for a burst of it.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37So I usually carry that in my pocket like that
0:33:37 > 0:33:39or with that wrapped round there.
0:33:39 > 0:33:41This is the stab vest.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43I wear this underneath my jacket.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47It's quite heavy, but you just wear it to uni and take it off,
0:33:47 > 0:33:50put it in a bag and carry it around, then put it on to come home.
0:33:50 > 0:33:51Um...
0:33:51 > 0:33:57It goes quite tight really and makes you feel quite a lot better.
0:33:57 > 0:34:00I look back now and think, "Well, maybe it was a bit excessive",
0:34:00 > 0:34:03but I did feel, and still feel, like it will happen again.
0:34:03 > 0:34:06I don't know how to shake that,
0:34:06 > 0:34:09but it's there in the back of mind that it will happen again,
0:34:09 > 0:34:12and I felt like it was going to happen again every single day.
0:34:12 > 0:34:19I would literally have done anything to stop it happening again
0:34:19 > 0:34:21and protect myself.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Five months have passed since Aidan was attacked
0:34:25 > 0:34:28and no-one has been caught by the police.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30People say, "don't let them win"
0:34:30 > 0:34:34and I think that's a stupid thing to say, personally.
0:34:34 > 0:34:37Because they've already won. They beat the hell out of me
0:34:37 > 0:34:38I never fought back.
0:34:38 > 0:34:41I know they're never going to be prosecuted.
0:34:41 > 0:34:42They've got away with it.
0:34:42 > 0:34:45The police didn't arrest any of them in relation to my case.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47It's basically closed, you know.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50So they've won, they've got away with it.
0:34:51 > 0:34:56In Ben's case a suspect was arrested and charged after his mugging.
0:34:56 > 0:35:01But the trial itself did not take place until the 24th of August 2011,
0:35:01 > 0:35:03more than a year after the attack,
0:35:03 > 0:35:06just as Ben was getting his life back on track.
0:35:08 > 0:35:12In court the defendant accepted that he'd been part of the group
0:35:12 > 0:35:14that encountered Ben.
0:35:14 > 0:35:16He admitted that he had hit one person,
0:35:16 > 0:35:19but claimed he was acting in self defence.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23He denied being responsible for Ben's injuries.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25A jury found him to be not guilty.
0:35:25 > 0:35:30Ben found his experience in court to be an intimidating ordeal.
0:35:30 > 0:35:34He felt his good character was questioned by the accused man's defence.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37To be honest, out of the whole experience,
0:35:37 > 0:35:42I found the court case to be the worst part of it by far.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46When I got in there, the prosecution guided me through the story
0:35:46 > 0:35:49and that was fine. They were quite nice.
0:35:49 > 0:35:55But then the defence lawyer stepped out and, for about an hour,
0:35:55 > 0:35:58tried to convince me I was a liar.
0:35:58 > 0:36:01"I put this to you. You're lying." You know?
0:36:01 > 0:36:04"You were really drunk and wanted to go out and have a fight."
0:36:04 > 0:36:07He was trying to make me out to be some sort of monster when really,
0:36:07 > 0:36:10I'm the victim and I've had months from hell
0:36:10 > 0:36:14and he is trying to make it seem as if I'm the one to blame.
0:36:16 > 0:36:20The accused mugger's defence lawyer has agreed to meet Ben
0:36:20 > 0:36:23to discuss his experience in court.
0:36:23 > 0:36:25Nice to meet you again.
0:36:25 > 0:36:30I've got very vivid memories of you calling me a liar
0:36:30 > 0:36:34and saying that I was out to cause trouble and start a fight.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37That stuff...
0:36:37 > 0:36:40Having been attacked as I was, and going through all that,
0:36:40 > 0:36:44that was almost worse than the actual attack.
0:36:44 > 0:36:49I'm sorry you felt that way. As you appreciate, I have to do my job.
0:36:49 > 0:36:54My job is to fearlessly defend the defendant
0:36:54 > 0:36:55and to present his instructions.
0:36:55 > 0:36:58You did say, you know,
0:36:58 > 0:37:01"I put it to you that you were out to cause trouble,"
0:37:01 > 0:37:04and this is sort of something you judged from me
0:37:04 > 0:37:09after meeting me 30 seconds ago, and you're able to make those judgements
0:37:09 > 0:37:11on my character when you don't know me at all.
0:37:11 > 0:37:16But I have to put the case as it appears.
0:37:16 > 0:37:22If you had turned out to be a seven foot tall bruiser,
0:37:22 > 0:37:24I would have asked you the same questions
0:37:24 > 0:37:29as if you'd turned out to be a medical student.
0:37:29 > 0:37:33All I knew about you was what was in the statement.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37I'm not looking or trying to attack you personally
0:37:37 > 0:37:40I'm not trying to make you, personally, look bad.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43I'm there to question your evidence.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46I'm there to make sure that the defendant's point of view
0:37:46 > 0:37:53is put over and that he is properly and robustly defended.
0:37:53 > 0:37:56As well as the ordeal of the court case,
0:37:56 > 0:37:58Ben has also had to deal with the emotional trauma
0:37:58 > 0:38:01which resulted from the attack.
0:38:02 > 0:38:09The pain of the injury was nothing compared to the mental pain afterwards
0:38:09 > 0:38:12and how long it took to get over that.
0:38:12 > 0:38:18I had really severe qualms about going anywhere alone at night.
0:38:18 > 0:38:22It wasn't something I felt I could talk to people about.
0:38:22 > 0:38:26It felt like a weakness in my part,
0:38:26 > 0:38:29so I really wanted to keep that to myself.
0:38:29 > 0:38:33Um...I found it really limiting,
0:38:33 > 0:38:40in that I was planning my time out, any social event I went to,
0:38:40 > 0:38:43I was planning it around whether I'd be able to get back with anyone.
0:38:43 > 0:38:49And if not "where else could I go until I could leave with someone?"
0:38:49 > 0:38:52Having that worry every time you go anywhere,
0:38:52 > 0:38:54it's really annoying.
0:38:55 > 0:39:00On the 28th January 2012, something extraordinary happened.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04As Ben was walking home through east London at 7:30 in the evening
0:39:04 > 0:39:08he was viciously attacked by a gang of muggers, for a second time.
0:39:10 > 0:39:13I was just on my way home from my part-time job, just walking home.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17I was attacked by a gang, and they were attacking me
0:39:17 > 0:39:21for about three minutes, punching, kicking and hitting me with a chain.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25It seemed as if it was going on for ever.
0:39:25 > 0:39:28I'd had recurring nightmares after the first attack,
0:39:28 > 0:39:33and because of that, I had a very vivid image of what it
0:39:33 > 0:39:36was like to be in that situation, being attacked.
0:39:36 > 0:39:41And to have it happen again, it was almost a very dreamlike...
0:39:41 > 0:39:44situation to be in. It was almost as if
0:39:44 > 0:39:48my recurring nightmare had manifested itself in real life.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51I could see the blood all around.
0:39:51 > 0:39:54At that point, it didn't really hurt.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57I was just sort of shocked into not feeling anything
0:39:57 > 0:40:02and not really getting to grips with what happened until afterwards.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06It only stopped because another man had come into the park
0:40:06 > 0:40:10and scared them off by him being on the phone to the police.
0:40:10 > 0:40:14It took a long time after the first attack to sort of get to grips
0:40:14 > 0:40:16with everything that had happened
0:40:16 > 0:40:19and get myself back together and back into normality.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22To have it happen again has just sort of...
0:40:22 > 0:40:26knocked it all back down to the start again.
0:40:26 > 0:40:30It sort of like started the nightmares again.
0:40:30 > 0:40:35Ben was robbed of his wallet, phone, passport and watch.
0:40:35 > 0:40:37The police have arrested a suspect,
0:40:37 > 0:40:39so he may have to go to court for a second time.
0:40:40 > 0:40:43The fact that it has happened before,
0:40:43 > 0:40:45it's almost just made it worse.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49I can't really believe that it's happened to me again.
0:40:49 > 0:40:51It's not...you know, I don't go around antagonising people.
0:40:51 > 0:40:53I'm not that sort of person.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56My whole point of what I do with my life
0:40:56 > 0:41:01is to go and study medicine, with the aim of helping people.
0:41:02 > 0:41:05Yeah, it does leave me thinking, why me?
0:41:21 > 0:41:23POLICE SIREN WAILS
0:41:23 > 0:41:25INDISTINCT POLICE RADIO
0:41:31 > 0:41:33What's happening now?
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Just had a recent snatch.
0:41:36 > 0:41:40We've got other units going from traffic to local units.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45Where's the victim?
0:41:51 > 0:41:54What you find is, they wear quite a few layers of clothing.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56The quicker we can get there,
0:41:56 > 0:42:00the less chance they've got of ditching a piece of clothing.
0:42:00 > 0:42:02A different coloured coat from a black to white
0:42:02 > 0:42:07can change someone's appearance so dramatically.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10And while it's fresh in the victim's mind, what that person looks like,
0:42:10 > 0:42:15it may be that bit of clothing that picks them out from anybody else.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20They've got him stopped.
0:42:20 > 0:42:22Lovely.
0:42:22 > 0:42:28So, the incident happened round about three to four streets away.
0:42:29 > 0:42:31They detained one fairly quickly.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33And as you can see, three or four roads away,
0:42:33 > 0:42:37the second suspect's been detained.
0:42:41 > 0:42:44As the team arrive, two suspects have just been caught
0:42:44 > 0:42:48and are waiting to be taken for questioning.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52The victim chased after his muggers, helping the police to catch them,
0:42:52 > 0:42:56but has asked for his identity to be protected for fear of reprisals.
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Do you want to jump in the car, and we'll discuss it in the car,
0:43:01 > 0:43:04so we're not in everybody's view. Jump in the back, my friend.
0:43:04 > 0:43:06- You're not injured?- I'm all right.
0:43:06 > 0:43:09- Yeah? You sure? - Just tired, I was running.
0:43:09 > 0:43:10Did it happen through the high street?
0:43:10 > 0:43:12They ran through the high street?
0:43:12 > 0:43:14- Yeah.- If there is more that are involved,
0:43:14 > 0:43:16there's always the cameras on the high street.
0:43:16 > 0:43:20- There's plenty of cameras. All right?- I can't recognise all of them.
0:43:20 > 0:43:23OK, but the camera does all that for us.
0:43:23 > 0:43:25We'll make the statement as quickly as possible,
0:43:25 > 0:43:27- because I know you've got to get to work.- OK.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30A 15-year-old pleaded guilty to this robbery
0:43:30 > 0:43:37and was given a six month referral order and ordered to pay £850 costs.
0:43:45 > 0:43:47The unit typically deals with
0:43:47 > 0:43:50between eight and twelve mugging reports every day,
0:43:50 > 0:43:53and it's not long before another teenager arrives
0:43:53 > 0:43:54to report being mugged.
0:43:56 > 0:44:00That other boy came with a knife in his hand out of the bushes.
0:44:00 > 0:44:05- From the park?- Yeah.- Right. - He came with a knife in his hand.
0:44:05 > 0:44:07And he was going to push it into my belly.
0:44:07 > 0:44:11And I asked him to stop, and I was pushing him back.
0:44:11 > 0:44:15And he just went like this, to do that to me.
0:44:15 > 0:44:17Can you describe the knife?
0:44:18 > 0:44:22It was just sharp, because he was covering it with his hand.
0:44:22 > 0:44:24- You didn't see the handle?- No.- OK.
0:44:24 > 0:44:27- How long was the blade? - About that big.
0:44:27 > 0:44:29He went into my pocket.
0:44:29 > 0:44:31And he said, "If I find something,
0:44:31 > 0:44:34"I'm going to hit you over the head with a hammer."
0:44:34 > 0:44:35And I said "No, don't do that."
0:44:35 > 0:44:37Then he went into my pocket and grabbed my phone.
0:44:37 > 0:44:39Did you come straight home?
0:44:39 > 0:44:43Yeah, I went straight home and told my mum as soon as I got home.
0:44:51 > 0:44:53I was committing a lot of crimes.
0:44:53 > 0:44:57I was in a lot of court cases, looking at a lengthy time in prison.
0:44:57 > 0:44:58And I found myself in desperate need.
0:45:03 > 0:45:06I met this young girl, and she told me about Jesus.
0:45:06 > 0:45:10Everything has its time, a time to be born and a time to die.
0:45:10 > 0:45:14You need to change your life and think about your actions, because the way you're living,
0:45:14 > 0:45:16if you continue to live this life,
0:45:16 > 0:45:19you will end up dead or in prison.
0:45:19 > 0:45:22A lot of my friends were in these situations where they were getting killed
0:45:22 > 0:45:24or going to prison. It was very much reality to me.
0:45:24 > 0:45:28I started to believe, read my Bible and go to church. My life really changed.
0:45:31 > 0:45:33# All I need is you, Lord
0:45:33 > 0:45:36# Is you, Lord... #
0:45:36 > 0:45:38I said, "You know what, God?
0:45:38 > 0:45:41"I'm going to give you my whole life, my whole heart. In everything I do,
0:45:41 > 0:45:43"my actions will demonstrate my faith".
0:45:43 > 0:45:49One, two, three, Jesus! Amen.
0:45:57 > 0:45:59From there, things started really changing.
0:45:59 > 0:46:00They started getting better.
0:46:00 > 0:46:03I started climbing and climbing and climbing.
0:46:05 > 0:46:07Jesus loves you!
0:46:07 > 0:46:09Jesus loves you, sir!
0:46:09 > 0:46:11I'm a qualified youth worker.
0:46:11 > 0:46:12I work with gangs.
0:46:12 > 0:46:15I go to probation services and do a lot of outreach work.
0:46:15 > 0:46:17I evangelise.
0:46:17 > 0:46:19I go every Saturday. Wherever I get the opportunity,
0:46:19 > 0:46:23I tell people about Jesus Christ to let you know, he can change your life.
0:46:23 > 0:46:26Dear Heavenly Father, Father of God,
0:46:26 > 0:46:28have your way in his life, oh, Lord Jesus.
0:46:28 > 0:46:30In the precious name of Jesus Christ,
0:46:30 > 0:46:33I pray. Amen. God bless you, my brother. You take care, man.
0:46:33 > 0:46:35Some people take to it. Some people don't want to know.
0:46:35 > 0:46:38Hello, madam. Can I leave you with something?
0:46:38 > 0:46:40- No, you can't, I'm sorry.- No?
0:46:40 > 0:46:42Sometimes I see people from my past life,
0:46:42 > 0:46:46and they always smile and they can't believe I'm doing what I'm doing,
0:46:46 > 0:46:49that someone who was in such darkness is now walking in such light.
0:46:55 > 0:46:59It's 9th February, six months since Richard was attacked.
0:46:59 > 0:47:02His muggers have been caught and he will come face to face
0:47:02 > 0:47:04with them in four weeks at their trial.
0:47:05 > 0:47:08But Richard's struggling to recover, unable to work full time,
0:47:08 > 0:47:13ride his scooter or drink alcohol with his friends.
0:47:13 > 0:47:17He's started to ride the bus for several hours every day
0:47:17 > 0:47:19to occupy his time.
0:47:19 > 0:47:21When I was at home, I was just thinking about court
0:47:21 > 0:47:23and everything that happened.
0:47:23 > 0:47:28I don't know, but being on the bus and listening to music
0:47:28 > 0:47:30sort of gets it out of your head.
0:47:30 > 0:47:33It sort of brings something else into your thinking style,
0:47:33 > 0:47:38like "Yeah, I remember this road", and stuff like that.
0:47:38 > 0:47:39I mean, most of my friends
0:47:39 > 0:47:42would be in work or college or uni or something.
0:47:42 > 0:47:44And I just have nothing to do all day.
0:47:44 > 0:47:48Is it difficult for other people to understand what's going on?
0:47:48 > 0:47:51I think it is quite difficult for other people to understand.
0:47:51 > 0:47:54You've sort of got to go through it yourself
0:47:54 > 0:47:56and see what it feels like to be me.
0:47:56 > 0:47:59See what it feels like to have something wrong with your brain,
0:47:59 > 0:48:03and try and find something to do that you can still do.
0:48:08 > 0:48:11I think what he finds the hardest is
0:48:11 > 0:48:15knowing that someone out there can do that to someone.
0:48:15 > 0:48:21It's not every day that you kind of...I mean,
0:48:21 > 0:48:23you see it on the news,
0:48:23 > 0:48:28but you turn a blind eye until it happens this close to home.
0:48:28 > 0:48:33I just don't think he can truly understand
0:48:33 > 0:48:37that people out there actually do that.
0:48:40 > 0:48:43An occupational therapist visits Richard three times a week
0:48:43 > 0:48:45to monitor his recovery
0:48:45 > 0:48:49and set him tasks to get his brain functioning properly again.
0:48:49 > 0:48:54- A train is heavier than a coach. - True.
0:48:54 > 0:48:57Photographic film is developed to obtain prints.
0:49:00 > 0:49:06- Photographic film is developed to take prints?- To obtain prints.
0:49:06 > 0:49:08True.
0:49:08 > 0:49:12- A pound of lead is heavier than a pound of feathers.- True.
0:49:12 > 0:49:16I've always wanted to be a web designer. I still do.
0:49:18 > 0:49:23But, like, because of my attack, it's just had to be put on hold,
0:49:23 > 0:49:26to be honest.
0:49:26 > 0:49:28I'm just trying to get it back.
0:49:28 > 0:49:33I was so focused in college. I understood every little bit.
0:49:33 > 0:49:36But now I'm just having a bit of trouble
0:49:36 > 0:49:39trying to get my...education back in my brain.
0:49:41 > 0:49:43As part of his rehabilitation, Richard is now working
0:49:43 > 0:49:46a couple of three-hour shifts each week,
0:49:46 > 0:49:49at the pub where he had been working through college.
0:49:49 > 0:49:53Although he used to find the job easy, he now struggles with it.
0:49:56 > 0:50:00Oh! Combo feast.
0:50:00 > 0:50:02Hooray! There you go.
0:50:02 > 0:50:07- What is it?- I can't remember what to put on it.
0:50:07 > 0:50:11They're the worst starters in the whole world.
0:50:11 > 0:50:15How many of the dishes do you think you do remember, rather than don't?
0:50:15 > 0:50:18It's just the big dishes that I can't remember.
0:50:18 > 0:50:21All this combo and fish platter and stuff.
0:50:21 > 0:50:25They have about five different starter things on them.
0:50:25 > 0:50:27That's all right now. That's sorted.
0:50:27 > 0:50:29How many onion rings do you get now?
0:50:30 > 0:50:32Four each.
0:50:32 > 0:50:34Knowing something that I did know,
0:50:34 > 0:50:38and it's just totally gone from my head, so it's quite annoying.
0:50:38 > 0:50:44But hopefully doing these three-hour shifts, I'll sort of get it back.
0:50:44 > 0:50:46I'm getting faster on preparation as well,
0:50:46 > 0:50:48so I'm getting better at the job.
0:50:51 > 0:50:54- So how did it go?- Went all right.
0:50:54 > 0:50:58- Good.- I'm getting my menu back in my head.
0:50:59 > 0:51:02As well as causing problems with his memory,
0:51:02 > 0:51:07the damage to Richard's brain has caused his personality to change.
0:51:07 > 0:51:09He is less inhibited and more impulsive.
0:51:10 > 0:51:14I've actually learnt quite a lot about head injuries
0:51:14 > 0:51:19since Richard's been home. We weren't prepared properly,
0:51:19 > 0:51:24I don't think, for the difference in Richard. He's still lovely.
0:51:24 > 0:51:30He's very outgoing now. He never was. He was very quiet at home.
0:51:30 > 0:51:32He's very determined. He's quite a strong person.
0:51:32 > 0:51:34We're getting to know a new Richard,
0:51:34 > 0:51:38because it's like Richard went out of the door that day,
0:51:38 > 0:51:41that night, and a different Richard's come back.
0:51:41 > 0:51:45It's been one of the biggest things to...
0:51:45 > 0:51:49We still love him, but he's different.
0:51:49 > 0:51:52He's like a different person.
0:51:52 > 0:51:55Because Richard had such a severe head injury,
0:51:55 > 0:51:59the licence for his scooter was automatically revoked for one year.
0:51:59 > 0:52:04I need my scooter to get places and go to Tesco
0:52:04 > 0:52:08and...I don't know, go to the snooker club or something.
0:52:11 > 0:52:12It's unfair.
0:52:12 > 0:52:16I usually start her up, like, once or twice a week, keep her going.
0:52:16 > 0:52:22Rosita, that's what I should name her, because it's a bit Spanish.
0:52:22 > 0:52:25I like the Spanish names. Rosita.
0:52:27 > 0:52:32I love it so much, and I'm just waiting to get back on it.
0:52:36 > 0:52:38On the night that Richard was mugged, the gang that robbed him
0:52:38 > 0:52:41also attacked someone else.
0:52:43 > 0:52:46Their other victim saw the car they used to escape.
0:52:48 > 0:52:50After a search, the police tracked the gang down
0:52:50 > 0:52:52through the owner of the car.
0:52:57 > 0:53:01It's 5th March, and the gang are due in court.
0:53:03 > 0:53:05Richard will see them face to face for the first time
0:53:05 > 0:53:08since the night they brutally attacked him.
0:53:14 > 0:53:18Don't let it bother you. All you have to do is just go...
0:53:18 > 0:53:19What was that?
0:53:20 > 0:53:24The guy there in the red hoodie was...one of the 17-year-olds.
0:53:29 > 0:53:32All you have to do, Rick, when they look at you, just go,
0:53:32 > 0:53:35"See you later, pal."
0:53:42 > 0:53:44I just saw two or three of them, I think,
0:53:44 > 0:53:46because some turned around and stared at me
0:53:46 > 0:53:48while they were walking in the door.
0:53:48 > 0:53:52And they were still staring when they were turning round and walking.
0:53:52 > 0:53:54My body just dropped.
0:53:54 > 0:53:58Just get back-flashes, you know what I mean?
0:54:00 > 0:54:02What it were like on the night.
0:54:05 > 0:54:06It's made me angry now.
0:54:06 > 0:54:11I wasn't feeling angry earlier. I woke up in a good mood.
0:54:11 > 0:54:12Had a cigarette in a good mood.
0:54:12 > 0:54:16But when you start seeing their faces, you're not in a good mood.
0:54:27 > 0:54:28Urghh!
0:54:41 > 0:54:44Sophie Arnold drove the muggers to and from the attack.
0:54:44 > 0:54:48She received a sentence of two and a half years.
0:54:48 > 0:54:52Hassan Adams admitted going out with the intention of robbing.
0:54:52 > 0:54:55He was sentenced to six years.
0:54:55 > 0:54:58Viren Lad admitted pushing Richard.
0:54:58 > 0:55:00He was sentenced to six years.
0:55:01 > 0:55:05Duron Thompson admitted going out with the intention to rob
0:55:05 > 0:55:07and slapping Richard.
0:55:07 > 0:55:09He was given seven years.
0:55:09 > 0:55:13Stefan Grant has 20 previous convictions. He admitted
0:55:13 > 0:55:18being present at the robbery and selling Richard's phone for £200.
0:55:18 > 0:55:20He was sentenced to eight years.
0:55:25 > 0:55:27Do you feel like justice has been done?
0:55:27 > 0:55:30I do. I feel like justice has been done.
0:55:30 > 0:55:34I'm just giving them back what they gave me, to be honest.
0:55:34 > 0:55:38They can't be out drinking with their friends and stuff. They have to be locked in a little room.
0:55:38 > 0:55:40How do you think they felt seeing you?
0:55:40 > 0:55:44I mean, when they were walking round and they were looking at me
0:55:44 > 0:55:46and whispering to their family and that,
0:55:46 > 0:55:50it's just like, "You're in court, so be nice.
0:55:50 > 0:55:54"This could be your life sentence or something.
0:55:54 > 0:55:57"Don't act like that.
0:55:57 > 0:56:00"I wouldn't mind you coming up to me and saying sorry."
0:56:00 > 0:56:04I probably wouldn't accept it, but I'd take that as a hint, as in
0:56:04 > 0:56:05"You wish you didn't do that."
0:56:05 > 0:56:08I don't know if they were allowed to speak to me or not,
0:56:08 > 0:56:10but I would have preferred it
0:56:10 > 0:56:16if they'd tried to mouth to me "I'm sorry", or anything like that.
0:56:16 > 0:56:19But...I don't know.
0:56:43 > 0:56:46Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd