Robber targeted vulnerable man at his home in Leeds

Ashley Johnson, 24, was sent to prison for two years, eight months after a court heard how he threatened to cut the victim’s throat during the attack.

Johnson knocked on the door of the victim’s home in Yeadon, Leeds, as he was about to go to bed on March 14 this year.

Robert Galley, prosecuting, said Johnson asked the victim if he could use his toilet before being allowed inside.

Johnson then went into the man’s bedroom and saw him using a tablet device. Johnson asked if he could use it but the man refused and put it in a bedside drawer.

Johnson then said: “If you do not give it to me I will cut your throat.”

There was a struggle between the two men as Johnson took the device before climbing out of a window to get away.

Johnson, of Regent Close, Horsforth, was arrested after his fingerprint was found on the drawer.

He admitted that he had targeted the victim because he knew he was vulnerable and was desperate for money to buy drugs.

He pleaded guilty to robbery.

The court heard Johnson has a number of previous convictions, mainly for dishonesty offences committed against members of his own family.

Kenton Sargeant, mitigating, said much of Johnson’s offending was linked to his addiction to drugs.

He said the offence was out of character as he usually committed offences of theft.

Mr Sargeant said Johnson had not planned the offence, had not taken a weapon with him to the scene and had used minimal force.

He added: “In my submission he is a thief, not an actual robber.”

Jailing Johnson, judge Mushtaq Khokar said: “My primary duty is not to punish you but to protect you from the community.