A victim who was left needing stitches after being violently mugged has told what happened during the incident with his attacker sentenced. A 59-year-old man was punched and robbed during an evening walk in Beeston.
He was walking along Station Road when he heard someone approaching from behind, and first thought it was a jogger. That was until the man was violently assaulted by John Christon, 33, of Willowcroft Road in Derby just after midnight on October 11 2021.
Christon demanded money from the victim and demanded his bank card when he realised the victim had no money on him, and Christon then fled the scene. The victim would later need stitches for a cut to his forehead, along with a bloodied nose and bruising; further medical appointments were needed to ensure he had not sustained any irreversible damage to his eyes.
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The 59-year-old man said: "Before I knew what was happening, I was punched in the face. The blow knocked my glasses off and just stunned me a bit.
"My attacker didn't say anything at first and just kept hitting me in the face. It was a very stressful situation as I was really powerless to do anything.
"I was no physical match for him so I couldn't fight him or even outrun him. I really just wanted him to stop hitting me before he did some real damage. I remember at the time wondering when he was actually going to get around to telling me what he wanted, and I had to ask him.
"Thankfully I have no other similar experience to compare them against, but I think the officers involved in this case did a really good job to move so quickly and get a suspect in custody. In the weeks since, I have been given regular updates about the cases and am now relieved and happy that this man has been brought to justice."
After fleeing with the bank card, unaware he was given a false pin by the victim, Christon was later caught on CCTV as he tried and failed to withdraw £250 from a cash machine in Alfreton Road, Radford. Christon, who was bare chested at the time of the attack, was identified partly thanks to a number of distinctive tattoos.
A police investigation also unearthed footage of him being driven away in a car that was later tracked to Derbyshire. Local officers then pulled the car over and Christon was arrested on October 12 2021. He declined to comment in his subsequent police interview but later pleaded guilty to charges of robbery and fraud.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday (July 28), he was jailed for three years and nine months for robbery and fraud by false representation.
Detective Constable Andrew Sibley, of Nottinghamshire Police said: "This was a frightening ordeal for the victim who had been enjoying a late night walk at the time of the attack. Nobody should fear being assaulted and robbed as they are going about their business so I am delighted that Christon has now been taken off the streets.
"He is a violent thug who launched an entirely unprovoked attack against a victim he knew had no hope of defending himself. He seemingly thought he could carry out this kind of attack without being caught but clearly hadn’t reckoned upon the very quick thinking of his victim or the determination and tenacity of Nottinghamshire Police."
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