The mugger who messed with the wrong guy
WOULD-BE ROBBER WHOSE 77-YEAR-OLD TARGET FOUGHT HIM OFF IS JAILED
A WOULD-BE robber targeted a pensioner in a cowardly attack but was taken aback when the 77-yearold spun round and punched him in the face.
Michael Collins thought Trevor Weston would be an easy target but Mr Weston determinedly refused to hand over his cash and bank cards, instead bravely standing up to his attacker.
Cardiff Crown Court heard the defendant shouted: “Give me your money and card or I’ll stab you.”
The incident happened at around 6am on February 5 outside Sainsbury’s in Colchester Avenue in Cardiff. Mr Weston had driven there to get cash out.
Tim Evans, prosecuting, said: “He was alone. He parked, walked to the cashpoint, and used his card. As he took the cash he was shocked to feel a pair of arms reach around him.”
He told the court: “It is plainly a cowardly attack. CCTV shows this particular coward picked on the wrong man. He wanted the victim’s cash. Instead he got a left hook.”
The court heard Mr Weston spun around, pushed the defendant backwards, and asked: “What did you say?”
Collins started to walk towards him again and repeated: “Give me your money and card or I’ll stab you.”
Mr Evans said: “Instead of giving him money, Mr Weston gave him a punch to the face to keep him away and squared up to him in a boxing stance with his fists up.”
The court heard Collins was “taken aback” and took a step backwards. Mr Weston saw he was holding a pencil out in front of him.
Undeterred, the defendant moved towards Mr Weston again, holding out the pencil. Mr Evans said: “That did not put off the redoubtable Mr Weston. He punched his attacker again with his left fist to the face. This time a bit harder.
“That second punch clearly surprised the defendant and it was then that he backed off and walked away towards Colchester Avenue.”
Mr Weston got into his car and drove away. He described feeling “shaken up” as he realised what had just happened.
In a victim personal statement, he said: “After this incident I went home. I sat down and ate breakfast. I was watching the TV and it suddenly dawned on me what could have happened.
“I was very shaky. I think I was shocked. Looking back at this time I am thankful nothing worse happened.”
He added: “I am now frightened to go back to Sainsbury’s to withdraw money. I am thinking I will have to change my daily routine.”
The court heard he had a sore hand from defending himself.
Collins had a chance encounter with an off-duty police officer around 40 minutes later. PC Michael Stone was walking along Newport Road near the junction with Colchester Avenue.
Prosecutors said the defendant approached him and asked in a raised voice for a cigarette and if he wanted to “buy any booze”.
The officer was concerned about his behaviour and followed him at a distance while contacting the police camera room and asking them to pay attention to him.
PC Stone stopped him further down the road and seized a bag containing several bottles of spirits which the defendant stated had come from Lidl.
Later that day PC Stone watched CCTV of the attempted robbery and noted the would-be robber was wearing similar clothing to the man he saw face-to-face.
The defendant’s DNA was found on Mr Weston’s jacket. Police went to arrest Collins at his home in Ely on February 27 and he refused to open the door.
He was cautioned and replied: “What f***ing robbery? I haven’t f***ing robbed no-one.”
When he was interviewed, he said: “I have no recollection of the day of the robbery, that’s all I’ve got to say about that.”
Prosecutors said he had 156 previous offences on his record including assaulting police officers, criminal damage and harassment. The new offence was committed during a community order.
Mr Evans said: “While he has no convictions for robbery or attempted robbery per se, he has a very substantial record for brazenly taking other people’s property over many years with some limited examples of a tendency to use violence when challenged.”
Collins, 40, from Emblem Close in Ely, admitted attempted robbery.
Kevin Seal, defending, said his client had difficulties with addiction and could not remember the incident due to alcohol and drug misuse.
He acknowledged Collins had an “extensive” criminal record but stressed he did not cause any injury, adding: “I can only ask the court to pass the shortest sentence in the circumstances.”
In his sentencing remarks Judge Richard Williams said: “You thought he would make an easy target. You chose someone who you presumed wrongly to be vulnerable.
“Mr Weston chose to defend himself with courage, determination, and he was entirely successful.”
Collins was jailed for three years and six months.
Speaking from his home after the case Mr Weston welcomed the outcome, adding he hadn’t expected Collins to get such a lengthy sentence.
“I’m pleased with that – I thought he’d get maybe half that amount,” he said.
Mr Weston said he’d not really given Collins or the incident a second thought in the intervening months.
“I’ve remained quite calm about it and have felt fine in myself – besides there’s been so much going on with all this coronavirus stuff that hardly anyone’s got time to think about anything else,” he said.
“I can draw a line under this whole thing now though and just hope he’ll see the error of his ways.”