A promising young footballer’s fledgling career was derailed by his addiction to cocaine which culminated with him robbing his own grandmother.

Joseph Dykins’ life spiralled out of control after he started using the Class A drug and was kicked out of a football academy in Darlington.

The 23-year-old’s troubling behaviour came to a head when he pushed his grandmother to ground after spitting in her face as he demanded she hand over cash to fund his habit before stamping on her mobile phone.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the talented footballer still has the support of his family as they try to help him to overcome his drug addiction.

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Emma Atkinson, prosecuting, said Dykins had been ‘bullying’ his grandmother for six years and had assaulted her on a previous occasion.

The court heard how the defendant repeatedly called his grandmother begging for cash before turning up at her home and demanding she give him the money.

“He grabbed her mobile phone out of her hand as she went to leave her home and he jumped out of a window, followed her while screaming at her,” Miss Atkinson said.

“He took hold of her mobile phone again and threw it into the garden, it was retrieved without damage and she said she was calling the police.

“He called her a ‘silly ‘s**g’ and demanded that she transfer the money, he then pushed her causing her to stumble over. He then threatened to let her dog out of the house, if she didn’t hand him the money.

“She transferred £60 to him, she felt she had to do that otherwise he would pester her all night. She called the police and that’s when he grabbed the phone again before stamping on it repeatedly.”

The court heard he was awaiting sentence for an earlier assault on his grandmother and committed the most recent attack whilst on bail.

The Northern Echo: Joseph DykinsJoseph Dykins (Image: Cleveland Police)

Dykins, of Peel Street, Thornaby, pleaded guilty to robbery, harassment and criminal damage when he attacked his grandmother on January 17.

Michele Turner, mitigating, said her client’s family were helping him to ‘fight the beast’ of addiction and wanted him to get the help he needed.

She added: “He wanted to go to prison, he has realised this was out of control and realised that his behaviour was wrong.”

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Recorder Richard Woolfall sentenced Dykins to three years and four months in prison for his campaign of harassment and bullying against his grandmother.

“You have a history of targeting your grandmother and causing her distress – she says she has been bullied by you for six years,” he said.

“When you were desperate for money, you targeted your grandmother again and demanded cigarettes. She gave you them and told you to go but that wasn’t enough for you, you wanted more.”