Drug addict stole cash from OAP
AN 83-YEAR-OLD man suffered a bad gash to his head when he “blacked out” and collapsed as he tried to chase a drug addict who had grabbed his cash and wallet at an ATM in Todmorden.
A judge described Peter Thornton as “a career criminal” after hearing how he had racked up 74 previous convictions for 164 offences and he said the 54-year-old, of Beaufort Street, Nelson, had deliberately targeted his elderly victim at the cash machine that morning.
Bradford Crown Court heard that Thornton, who had been desperate for drugs money, had stolen a can of Special Brew beer from the One Stop Shop on
Bridge Street on the morning of July 3, but he then remained in the area before targeting his victim at a nearby ATM.
Prosecutor Syam Soni said the complainant had been withdrawing £200 from the machine when Thornton asked for some money and the victim refused to give him any.
Mr Soni said Thornton stole the money that had been dispensed by the ATM and then grabbed the victim’s wallet, which contained another £200, from his hand.
“The victim attempted
to pursue the defendant who had run away in the direction of a taxi stand, but unfortunately the victim suffered a black-out and collapsed,” said Mr Soni.
The court heard that the money was going to be used for a dental operation for the victim’s wife and Judge Hatton said the £400 would have been a huge amount for the retired complainant.
Thornton pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from the person as an alternative to robbery and also admitted stealing the can of beer from the shop.
The judge was told that Thornton was remorseful for what he had done.
Thornton was jailed for 22 months.
The victim attempted to pursue the defendant suffered a black-out and collapsed.
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