CASHPOINT ROBBER JAILED
A robber who lurked behind a student at a cash point before headbutting him and taking his money has been jailed.
David De Costa was inside a takeaway shop in Sunderland last year when he spotted the undergraduate waiting for cash to be withdrawn from the machine nearby.
Newcastle Crown Court heard that De Costa aggressively told him to move away but he bravely tried to stand his ground and an altercation broke out.
The victim was headbutted and pushed during the stand-off.
Annie Richardson, prosecuting, said: "The complainant is a second year student at the University of Sunderland and was in the university library on August 21, last year until about 9pm.
"He then went to the city centre for a meal.
"The restaurant didn' t take card payment and he went to a cashpoint to select £10 to withdraw.
"The defendant was on CCTV waiting for a takeaway order. The defendant was clearly drunk and went outside and stood behind the complainant.
"As the money was about to be dispensed the defendant pushed him out of the way.
"The victim tried to stick up for himself, however, the defendant refused to move and they were face-to-face holding each other."
The court heard how De Costa, now 33, headbutted and pushed the victim into a barrier then walked back into the takeaway to collect his order.
Miss Richardson added: "The complainant waited outside in the vicinity for the police to arrive as he had called them.
"The defe ndant then tried to shake his hand and when he refused he ran at him again before the police arrived. The defendant was arrested with £10 in his pocket."
De Costa, of Baker Street in Sunderland, has previous convictions for violence and pleaded guilty to robbery before being jailed for 40 months by Recorder Ian Mullarkey.
The judge told him: "Much of your offending appears to be alcohol related. That is clearly a problem which you need to address. You've not committed an offence of this type, you've not reoffended since and have expressed remorse for having committing this offence.”