A callous robber targeted a vulnerable pensioner and stole a wad of cash after targeting his victim in the toilets of a shopping centre.
Paul Clark followed the 74-year-old before accusing the pensioner of being a shoplifter before patting the man down and grabbing a handful of £20 notes.
The 58-year-old, who was living in a tent at the time of the robbery, then fled the Middleton Grange Shopping Centre, in Hartlepool, leaving his victim in a distressed state.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the pensioner had a habit of withdrawing £20 a day from a cashpoint and was unsure of the exact amount of cash that was stolen but thought it could have been in the region of £1,000.
Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said the ordeal had left the pensioner ‘fearing for his life’ after having been cornered in the public toilets of the shopping centre.
Read more: Heroin dealer walks free from court more than TWO years after her arrest
She added: “The defendant accused the victim of shoplifting and in effect patted-him down, searched his pockets and withdrew a handful of notes.
“He made off and the victim came out and made an immediate complaint.”
Miss Haigh said the defendant was identified by police from the shopping centre’s CCTV and when he was arrested Clark was in possession of £1,800 in cash.
In a victim impact statement, the pensioner said he felt ‘absolutely terrified’ and thought he could ‘lose his life’.
The court heard how the defendant had 38 convictions for 81 offences, including for violence and burglary.
Clark, of Lewis Grove, Hartlepool, pleaded guilty to robbery following his arrest on July 26 this year.
Stephen Constantine, in mitigation, said his client was adamant that he only stole £320 from the pensioner and the other cash was from his benefits as he was living in a tent at the time of the offence.
Recorder Jeremy Barnett sentenced Clark to three-years in custody for the robbery.
“This was an offence has to be viewed as a targeted offence on a vulnerable victim,” he said.
“If you decide to repeat this kind of offence, you will expect to receive longer and longer sentences.”
The defendant was also ordered to pay £750 in compensation to the pensioner.
Read next:
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel