A man has been jailed after threatening three women with knives before robbing them.
37-year-old Mark Kitson, of Westbourne Mount in Beeston, was sentenced to four and a half years on Tuesday, June 6, at Leeds Crown Court. It comes after Kitson and another man walked up to three women who were waiting for a taxi in Bridge Street, Holbeck, and threatened them with knives on Sunday, March 12.
Afterwards the pair, who were wearing face coverings, made demands for their property. A mobile phone and a handbag were handed over before the men made off on foot.
Read more: Neighbours speak of shock after man dies in Leeds house fire
Enquiries into the robbery led to the stolen phone being recovered a short distance away. A bank card belonging to Kitson was found nearby. Kitson was arrested from his home address the following day, where clothing matching that worn by the suspects was also recovered.
Speaking after Kitson had been sentenced, Detective Constable Toby Rodgers, of Leeds District Crime Team, said: "Kitson and his accomplice put their victims through what must have been a terrifying ordeal as they waited for a taxi home, and I hope that this outcome will give them some closure."
Speaking about the details of the incident, a spokesperson for West Yorkshire Police said: "A man has been jailed after he pleaded guilty to robbing three women in an incident in Leeds. Mark Kitson, aged 37, of Westbourne Mount in Beeston, was sentenced to four and a half years yesterday (Tuesday) at Leeds Crown Court, in relation to the incident which occurred in Holbeck in the early hours of Sunday, 12 March this year.
"Wearing face coverings, Kitson and a male accomplice walked up to the women who were waiting for a taxi in Bridge Street and threatened them with knives, while making demands for their property. A mobile phone and a handbag were handed over before the men made off on foot.
"Enquiries into the robbery led to the stolen phone being recovered a short distance away. A bank card belonging to Kitson was found nearby. Kitson was arrested from his home address the following day, where clothing matching that worn by the suspects was also recovered."
Read next:
