Cryptocurrency trader, 21, robbed by machete-wielding gang after bragging about luxury holidays, shopping sprees and nights out on Instagram
The 21-year-old was attacked by two masked robbers who burst into his Greater Manchester home and demanded valuables
A CRYPTOCURRENCY trader was robbed by a machete-wielding gang after bragging about his lifestyle on Instagram.
Kieren Hamilton regularly posted photos of himself online on luxury holidays, nights on the town and shopping sprees.
The 21-year-old was attacked by two masked robbers who burst into his Greater Manchester home and demanded valuables.
He was stabbed in the arm before the robbers escaped with his dog worth an estimated £1,000, his Apple MacBook laptop, gold bracelets and a gold wedding ring.
Mr Hamilton's baby daughter was at home and screaming in her cot when the robbers struck at 6am on January 5.
Today one of the robbers Corey Fricker, 27, of Blackburn, Lancs was starting 13 years jail after he admitted robbery and an unrelated offence of possessing drugs with intent to supply.
The court heard how former call centre worker Mr Hamilton lived with his partner Jessica and their one year old daughter Esmae and would regularly post pictures about his life on social media.
Pictures showed him on sailing trips and in Jacuzzis and showing off a Rolex watch, luxury Mercedes and a new set of teeth.
One post read: ''I will forever remain humble for what I have achieved because I know I could have a lot less - I will also forever be grateful as I had less in the past.''
Another said: You know you're getting old when you ditch going out spending money on designer and spend £500 on a coffee machine.''
Following the attack Mr Hamilton was left with a deep gash in elbow that needed 12 stitches.
The dog - named Rambo - is still missing and is feared to have been sold on the black market.
Prosecutor Nicholas Clarke said: "His job involves selling courses for learning how to trade cryptic coins.
"As part of this, he uses his Instagram account to post images of wealth such as expensive items and drinks.
"He thought it [break in noise] was the dog at first but he went upstairs and found this defendant and another man wearing balaclavas and holding machetes. They were shouting about drugs and money.
"The defendant took him downstairs shouting about watches and money."
Fricker, who has 75 offences on his record, was arrested on June 7 this year while driving a stolen car.
Sentencing him Judge Stuart Driver QC told Fricker: "You and another man invade a family home where you believed there would be a haul for you to steal. You demand money and each had a machete.
"Violence was used and the men were at least prodded by the weapons.
"The home owner required twelve stitches and was left with a scar. Serious physical harm was caused to the victim in addition to substantial trauma.''
At the time of the raid Mr Hamilton offered a £1,000 reward for the safe return of the dog.
He said: "They stabbed me about 40 times, but most of them didn't pierce, I have just got scratches on my arm.
"I didn't really have time to be scared. It was fight or flight.
"They couldn't get what they wanted from me, so they stole my dog, and tried to get one up on me to hurt me that way.
His mother Nikki said: “He’s not bothered about himself. He is concerned about his little girl, she was screaming. He just wants his dog back.
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"The robbers were telling Kieren to give them this, give them that, but he didn’t give them anything. He has lost a lot of blood. There is blood all over the house, it looked like a massacre.
Kieren tried to drag himself to the baby, but he felt very weak.
“He said that it felt like hours that they were there, but it was probably only minutes. I don’t think they’ll go back, it was such an ordeal.”
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