Robbers who posed as gay jailed for five years
Two men who pretended they were gay so that they could rob a man they met in a nightclub have been sentenced to five years at Bristol Crown Court.
Benjamin Butler, 29, and Matthew Wyatt, 33, duped John Gibbs at the Vibe club in Bristol before going back to his flat where they threatened him with a knife, stole his money and tied him up.
The pair then fled, leaving Mr Gibbs imprisoned in his flat.
A few days later he spotted the thieves in the city. He called the police and they were arrested.
“The victim went to Vibe nightclub in Frogmore Street, which is frequented by homosexuals,” said prosecutor William Hunter, according to the Bristol Evening Post.
“The defendants are not in a relationship with each other. They offered Mr Gibbs a lift home.
“Butler was driving. The vehicle was driven without insurance. They got to his house.
“Mr Gibbs, as a result of mixed messages, asked Butler if he could kiss him.”
According to Mr Hunter, Mr Wyatt then left the room and Mr Butler held Mr Gibbs down on the sofa while holding a knife so close to his throat that it left him with minor cuts.
“Butler said ‘Bad move, I’m straight. Where’s the money and valuables. Don’t move or I’ll kill you’,” said Mr Hunter.
When Mr Wyatt returned, he was holding a kitchen knife with a nine-inch blade.
“Wyatt said, ‘Don’t move, do as I say. Tell us where you keep the money,” said Mr Hunter.
When Mr Gibbs replied that he did not have any money, his bank card was taken by Mr Wyatt who went to a cash machine but returned without any cash.
The pair then ransacked his flat before fleeing with his camera, DVD player and computer.
Butler and Wyatt admitted the charges of robbery, false imprisonment and driving while disqualified.
In addition to their sentence, Butler was disqualified from driving for 12 months and Mr Wyatt’s licence was endorsed with six points.
Judge Michael Longman who jailed the pair said: “You both befriended Mr Gibbs in a gay club.
“To win his confidence you masqueraded as gay men yourselves to get an invitation to his flat.
“Although he was not injured physically in any serious way this will have deeply affected him psychologically in the long term.”
