Isaiah Lester jailed for over four years
Isaiah Lester. Picture: Suffolk Police
April 26, 2023
A teenager from Northolt has received a lengthy jail sentence after being convicted of drug dealing and robbery in a coastal town.
18-year-old Isaiah Lester of Cranberry Close, was convicted at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday 20 April of taking part in a number of robberies and attempted robberies in Lowestoft.
Along with 20-year-old Muhamadu Conte of Havering, he was on the Suffolk port on Tuesday 30 August last year. At approximately 9pm, two teenage boys were in a park when they were approached by Lester and Conte wearing balaclavas who then threatened them and searched their pockets, demanding their phones.
The boys agreed to hand them over, but the robbers were not happy with the ones they had and threatened injury if the boys didn’t give them a better phone.
One of the victims said he could give them an iPhone 7, which he had left elsewhere, and the group walked there together.
On the way they were met by another teenage boy on a bicycle who had arranged to meet his friends. His phone was also not accepted by the suspects.
Once the iPhone 7 was handed over, the pair took the bicycle – a green Carrera Vengeance - from the third boy and rode away.
The second offence occurred around 9.30pm that same evening. Lester and Conte rode into the Britten Centre on the stolen bicycle and approached a group of youths who were listening to music on a phone. They demanded the phone, which has handed over but which they later discarded.
Around the same time, another teenage boy was walking past the group and the pair threatened him and demanded his phone. He resisted and was punched to the head, causing him to drop his iPhone XR. The boy ran from the scene as one of his attackers chased after him.
Police were called and following enquiries and reviewing CCTV footage, Conte and Lester were identified as the suspects. Lester was arrested on 5 September 2022 and charged the following day.
Both men pleaded guilty to three counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery.
Lester was sentenced to 31 months imprisonment for the robbery offences. On top of this he was also sentenced to 18 months for dealing in class A drugs with the terms to be served consecutively - making a total sentence of 49 months. Conte was sentenced to 35 months imprisonment.
PC Ian McBrearty, of East CID, said: "Robbery is a violent crime that can have a lasting impact on victims.
“Lester and Conte targeted teenage boys, threatening to hurt them if their phones were not handed over. This would have been a very frightening experience for the victims, one of whom sustained minor injury after being assaulted.
“Tackling violence on our streets is a priority for Suffolk Constabulary and these arrests and the subsequent sentences shows our commitment in keeping our communities safe.”
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