Armed robber aged just 13: People Crime Special

Oct 16 2011
by Thomas Carlin, The People

THE sneering gunman in this alarming picture brandishes a sawn-off shotgun with expert ease.

He is a gangster, and he is only THIRTEEN years old.

Jobe Kilbride seen posturing as he is photographed by other thugs was the youngest of five teenagers who used this weapon to rob taxi drivers and stores during a vicious 10-day spree.

A man was shot in the neck. He lived and the gang escaped possible murder charges.

Police found mobile phone images of cocky Kilbride holding the lethal weapon.

In one photo he wears plastic gloves and hides his face beneath a hood in the same way he did during the gangs rampage through Liverpool.

Gangster: Jobe Kilbride poses with gun

Last night Melanie Jones, whose 11-year-old son Rhys was shot dead by a teenage gangster in the city in 2007, said: The photographs turned my stomach. Its just evil that they are so proud, standing their holding these guns. Its like a badge of honour for them.

Nothing has improved since Rhys death. The gangs are still on the streets and they still have guns. This is disrespectful to Rhyss memory. Im just glad no one was killed.

Today the five teeny mobsters are starting more than 20 years behind bars.

Judge Mark Brown ordered at Liverpool Crown Court that the boys should be named. All admitted armed robbery and gun charges. Kilbride was given four years. His brother Declan, 16, was locked up for nine years.

Declan Culshaw, the 15-year-old who acted as look-out in the gangs final robbery, faces five years and 14-year-old Dylan Currie was ordered to be detained for six years.

Gang boss Bradley Beveridge, 18, shouted abuse at Judge Brown as he was ordered to be locked up indefinitely.

Gangsters: Declan Culshaw,15, Declan Kilbride, 16, and Dylan Currie,14

The victims were chosen at random. The gang put on their hoods or pulled up their jumpers over their heads as they prowled the streets. The first victim was a taxi driver. When he pulled up he was faced with three figures with a shotgun who stole his takings and his cab, a silver Ford Mondeo. Another cabbie in a silver Ford Focus picked up three youths.The driver had a shotgun shoved in his face. The gang took cash and the taxi. The same day two youths with a shotgun burst into a store and fled with cash.

After raiding another store they were confronted by the shops owner.

Film: Store raid on CCTV

Sri Lankan-born Rajeethan Pulendran and friend Mani Mohan were fired at. Mani was hit in the neck and chest. He said: Im lucky I made it.

Det Insp Andy OConner, who led the elite police Matrix unit, said: If kids get involved in this type of thing, there are only two outcomes they go to prison or risk getting killed.

In May ringleader Beveridge wrote a message on his Facebook page mocking the police attempts to catch his gang.

He posted: F**k the Matrix catch me if ye can.

After the teens arrest another youth added: LOOKS LIKE THEY DID!! :)

To view the CCTV footage click here.

nick.dorman@people.co.uk