Theft thug sentenced

A THUG who admitted playing a role in pushing a pensioner to the ground and stealing his wallet has been handed a suspended prison sentence and curfew.

Adam Watson, 22, of Lapwing Grove, learned his fate at Warrington Crown Court last Thursday having failed to turn up to his trail on Tuesday two days earlier.

He attended Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, October 11, and pleaded guilty to assault and theft by finding, in line with coaccused Callum Quirk, 19, of HMP Hindley.

Watson was shown leniency by the presiding judge Recorder Anthony O’Donohoe after telling police in interview after his arrest that Quirk had pushed Edwin Gibson, now 77, to the ground in woods near Charlton Close in Palacefields at around 5pm on October 30 last year.

Mr Gibson had told police he had been robbed by three males.

Neil Bisarya, prosecuting, said officers arrested Watson while investigating the area around his then-address on The Knoll and saw Watson, who ran off.

The pursuing police found a bank card belonging to Mr Gibson on the route the defendant took.

Another codefendant Kelly Randles, 28, of The Knoll, later admitted to having handled the stolen card.

Mr Basarya said Watson’s offences in relation to Mr Gibson took place while he was on licence in connection with previous crimes.

The court heard Watson’s run-ins with the law began relatively recently in 2015 with a conviction for possessing a blade.

Since then he has been punished for handling stolen goods and making a false representation.

Philip Martin, representing Watson, said his client was ‘relatively lightly convicted’ and suffered from depression.

He added that there had been no planning of the theft and assault and that Watson had ‘told police what had happened’.

Recorder O’Donohoe sentenced him to four months in prison for assault and theft plus seven days for breaching his bail by not attending court, all suspended for 12 months.

He also received a 7pm-7am curfew.

The court heard that since the incident he had moved back in with his mother.

Sentencing Watson, the judge said: “I’m concerned about your behaviour.

“I’m concerned about your level of offending that has started relatively late.

“You committed this offence while on licence which is an aggravating feature, but given your circumstances it would be just to impose a suspended custodial sentence.”

Cheshire police would not release a custody picture of Watson as the length of sentence did not meet its criteria.