A drunken man who robbed his former partner of £50 when he turned up at her home and attacked her has been locked up.
Gary Bartle grabbed the woman and shook her about before managing to rifle through her pockets and snatch the money which he claimed she owed his mother.
Teesside Crown Court heard how the victim had managed to initially fight off the 37-year-old and escape her home after she kicked him.
Bartle caught up with the woman while she was on the phone to the police and managed to grab the cash and escape on March 29 this year.
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Uzma Khan, prosecuting, said: “He grabs her, he is shoving her about and repeatedly asking for the £50 for his mother. She knew that he knew that she had recently received some money.
“They are struggling while he is trying to money from her pockets. She manages to kick out and manages to get away from him and get out of the house.
“She calls the police and while she is on the phone he manages to catch up and starts to shove her again, this time he does manage to get his hands into her pockets and takes the money.”
Miss Khan says the following day the defendant messaged the victim to apologise and over the following days they exchange messages.
However, on April 5 the messages took a ‘sinister turn’ the court heard which resulted in another confrontation where Bartle threatened to burn down the home of the victim’s mother.
The court heard how the defendant has 17 previous convictions for offences including burglary and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Bartle pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery and making threats to damage property just before he was due to go on trial.
Stephen Constantine, in mitigation, his client had shown he could manage to stay out of trouble for long periods and urged the judge to pass a suspended sentence.
Recorder Mark McKone KC locked Bartle up for a total of 32 months for the robbery and threats to damage property.
He added: “Your attempts to get money from her continued outside the home, you went through her pockets and took £50 from her.
“The robbery is aggravated because you were under the influence of drink at the time.”
Bartle, of Bruntoft Avenue, Hartlepool, was also made subject of a five-year restraining order to stay away from his ex-partner.
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