‘Gratuitous street violence’

A violent robber who mugged a man with cerebral palsy in Canterbury has been jailed for almost two years.

Daniel Barker targeted his limping and vulnerable victim in Station Road East after hearing coins jangling in his pocket.

After forcing the man to the floor and stealing his money, 42-year-old Barker went to Mcdonald’s in the city centre, where he was apprehended by police.

Following his arrest, Barker smashed up a police laptop as detectives showed him CCTV footage of the mugging.

Judge Simon James branded the criminal damage a “petulant act” and the robbery “a nasty incident of gratuitous street violence”.

He jailed Barker for 21 months. The court heard Barker drew up to his victim in darkness,

at 6.30pm in January last year, as he walked alone home from work.

“The defendant demanded some change when he heard some coins in his pocket,” prosecutor Philip Allman said.

“The defendant physically forced him to the floor and duly took money. He was standing over him and was threatening to hit him.”

Barker made off with £55 however, but officers soon traced him to the Mcdonald’s in St George’s Street, and recovered £63 from his home.

The thief would claim he made the money while begging, but CCTV of the robbery proved otherwise.

Barker’s victim, who was present in court, said: “I feel unable to walk home alone after dark. I have to get someone to give me a lift, which takes away my independence.

“This incident has made me feel frightened and scared to go out after dark.”

The court heard Barker committed a robbery in 1999 after becoming homeless.

But Charlotte Oliver, mitigating, said Barker was now “drug-free” following his time on remand and is focused on getting housed.

Daniel Barker