Samaritan’s kindness repaid by robbery
A ROBBER repaid the kindness of a man who let him stay at his home following his release from prison by beating him and stealing his bank card.
Derby Crown Court heard the victim refused to give drug user Nathan Cahill money to buy crack cocaine. So instead the 25-year-old pinned him down and punched him in the face.
The defendant rifled through the man’s pockets, took the card and used it to buy cigarettes.
Jailing Cahill for three years and nine months, Judge Nirmal Shant QC said: “You had just been released from a sentence for robbery and ironically (the victim) was trying to help you because you did not have anywhere to live.
“You rewarded him by trying to get money from him which you plainly wanted for drugs. “This sort of behaviour is going to result in longer and longer sentences for you.”
Christopher Jeyes, prosecuting, said the offence took place in Park Lane, Newbold, on August 11. Cahill was homeless after being released on licence for robbery, having been sentenced at Derby Crown Court on February 20, 2020.
Mr Jeyes said the victim was allowing the defendant to stay at the house until he found his feet.
But that morning Cahill badgered him for money saying he wanted it to buy crack cocaine.
He said: “After saying ‘no,’ he (the victim) went into the kitchen and was followed by the defendant who brought him to the ground. He pinned him down and punched him a number of times to the face.
The police were called and while officers were at the address Cahill returned having used the stolen bank card to buy two packets of cigarettes and a can of energy drink. He was arrested and answered “no comment” to the questions he was asked. in court, he pleaded guilty to robbery and fraud.
Will Bennett, mitigating, said his client was “thoroughly ashamed of what he’s had to admit”.