Man admits attacking pensioner and taking his vehicle
HE THEN WROTE OFF DISABLED VICTIM’S LIFELINE
A DISABLED pensioner was attacked and robbed on his doorstep by a despicable thug who stole his car and wrote it off.
The 75-year-old amputee, who has a prosthetic leg and walks with a stick, was returning home to North Shields when he was targeted by Mark Skelton. Prosecutors originally alleged Skelton had repeatedly punched the victim but accepted his basis of plea that he pushed him to the ground. He briefly lost consciousness and was left bloodied and bruised.
When he came round, he saw his BMW, which he described as “effectively my legs”, had been stolen. Skelton then crashed it nearby, writing it off and damaging two other vehicles in the process. A court heard the formerly “fiercely independent” pensioner has now been left anxious and nervous about leaving his home.
He was left with a swollen temple, bruising and swelling to his forehead, bruising to his cheekbone, a swollen lip, a sore tooth and swelling behind his ear. As Skelton was jailed at Newcastle Crown Court for robbery and aggravated vehicle-taking, the victim told in a statement how the offences had affected him.
He said: “I’m a full-leg amputee and this has had a huge impact on my life. I’ve always been very independent despite my disability and age.”
He said he would often go out at night and take his dog out but added: “As a result of being attacked my whole life has been turned upside down. I was attacked on my own doorstep and now I don’t feel safe living like I used to, especially as I live on my own.
“I have been dependent on my
car to move about and get out. When that man stole my car he stole what are effectively my legs for getting out and about.”
He added that he’s frightened when he parks his car up now.
He said: “I’m scared something will happen again. I’ve also started smoking again as a result of this attack.”
Skelton, who has 88 previous convictions, knew the victim and had spoken to him previously. On January 22 this year, the victim saw him on his bike and he appeared to be looking at his car. Later that night, he returned home just after midnight, parked his car and walked up to his front door. He then returned to check he had locked the car and was suddenly approached by Skelton, who asked if he had any jump leads.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said: “The complainant said no and started walking back down his path to his front door and the defendant ran past him, stopped between him and the door and said ‘Give me your f ****** keys.’ The complainant was taken aback and told him to get out but the defendant demanded the keys and used force against him.
“The defendant says it was a push causing him to fall to the ground and will be sentenced on that basis. The Crown’s case is the complainant says he was punched multiple times.
“The use of force caused him to fall to the ground and he briefly lost consciousness. When he came round his keys were missing and his car had been stolen.”
Skelton only drove the car a short distance before crashing it into a parked van, leaving it embedded in the back of it and pushing the van into a car, damaging all three vehicles. The BMW caught fire.
Police attended and Skelton, who appeared under the influence of drink or drugs, was arrested. The 30-year-old, of Marine Avenue, Whitley Bay, pleaded guilty to robbery and aggravated vehicletaking and was jailed for 40 months. He was also given a fiveyear restraining order and will be banned from driving for three years following his release.
Glenn Gatland, for Skelton, said: “He has mental health issues and uses drugs to cope with those mental health difficulties.” He added that there was a “glowing” report about Skelton’s attempts to turn his life around and that he “bitterly regrets” his “stupid decision”.