Attempted knife-robber who threatened County Durham…

Attempted knife-robber who threatened County Durham man, 86, and vulnerable son arrested after giving victims his phone number

An attempted robber threatened an elderly man and his vulnerable son with a knife - before handing them his phone number.

Jason Smyth targeted the 86-year-old man and his 54-year-old son, who has learning difficulties, after they withdrew his pension from a cash point in Blackhall Colliery, County Durham. The 27-year-old had his hood up and a mask covering his face when he approached them on October 3 last year.

Durham Crown Court heard how Smyth told them he had been watching them for weeks and said: "Give me your money". When the older man refused, Smyth produced a knife with a four-inch blade from his pocket and told him: "I'll shank you, now give me your money".

Claire Anderson, prosecuting, told the court how the victim removed his hood and said he was in his 80s and his son was in his 50s. She said: "He pulled down his own hood and his mask and said that his name was Jay."

The prosecutor said the victim recognised him as being the ex-partner of his next door neighbour, who had previously carried out jobs for him. She said: "The defendant walked them back to his home address. He asked him to lend some money saying he was due to go to court. (The victim) agreed to give him £20.

"The defendant wrote the name 'Jay' and a telephone number on a piece of paper and said if they ever needed anything they should give him a call."

Ms Anderson said the defendant was arrested at an address on Fifth Street in the town. She said police found a mobile phone that rang when they used the telephone number.

In a victim impact statement, the 86-year-old man said he now had trouble sleeping and avoided going out at night. He said: "When I do go out during the day I'm a bag of nerves, I'm very aware of people and what they are doing. To he honest this incident has changed me into a nervous wreck."

The court in Durham heard how Smyth was taken to Peterlee police station where he was interviewed. He initially denied the allegations but changed his plea to guilty in December last year.

Smyth, of Seventh Street, Blackhall Colliery, County Durham, admitted attempted robbery and having an article with a blade or point. The court heard how he had seven previous convictions for 12 offences.

Kate Barnes, defending, told the court that Smyth was taking medication and smoking crack cocaine at the time. She said he had no recollection of the offence and found it "very troubling" that the victim was known to him and near neighbours.

Ms Barnes described the offence as an "unsophisticated attempt" and highlighted that he has provided his telephone number to the victim of the case. She said: "This is by far the most serious offence that he's committed and carries with it the most significant period of custody that he's served to date."

Smyth's barrister told the court that he had struggled with his mental health during his adult life. She said he desires to have contact with his two-year-old son as he is missing out on his development.

Miss Recorder Jo Kidd sentenced Smyth, who appeared in court via a video link to Durham prison, to five years and two months behind bars. She also handed him a restraining order preventing him from contacting the victims.

The judge told him: "The offence took place on the 3rd October when you approached two very vulnerable members of your local community and told them you had been watching them for weeks.

"It was their habit to leave their home address late at night and travel down to the cash machine in order to withdraw their money. It seems to me then that you deliberately targeted the victims in this case.

"One of them was a 86-year-old man, together with his son, who has significant learning difficulties. You said to 86-year-old (victim) 'Ill shank you, now give me your money'."

Recorder Kidd said the offence was an attempted robbery and not a robbery as the victim had stood up to him.

She added: "He did not allow your violence and threatening behaviour to impact him in passing over his pension money at that time. But he did subsequently pass money over to you and he said the reason for that was because you previously pulled a knife out on him."

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