Honey-trap plot couple beat and robbed man at knifepoint in his own Wakefield home
A man was beaten, robbed and threatened with a knife in his own home in a “terrifying” ploy after being lured by a woman with the promise of sex.
Drug addict Jordanne Brearley targeted the man and then used her boyfriend Ryan McDonald “as muscle” so they could steal more than £1,200 from the victim’s account.
The devious couple received more than 14 years’ jail between them at Leeds Crown Court this week.
The victim had been drinking in Wakefield city centre on the evening of October 26 last year when he was approached by Brearley who asked him for a cigarette.
They got talking and he bought her a sandwich and a drink, before they arranged to go back to his home to continue drinking and with the promise of sex.
Messages later found sent between Brearley and McDonald as she travelled back to the victim’s home suggested there was a plan to either rob him or blackmail him.
Having spent time drinking at the man’s property, 31-year-old Brearley said she needed to leave but would return.
She did, but brought 37-year-old McDonald with her. Entering the property, McDonald pushed the victim over and pinned him to the floor.
Brearley then took his phone and demanded the passcode.
When he refused, she grabbed a kitchen knife and held it to his neck. Thrashing around, the victim pushed the knife away, cutting his finger on the blade in the process.
They eventually unlocked his phone forcing his hand to the screen to use his finger print.
Brearley then made four payments to a total of £1,200.
They left the address with this phone and stole two pairs of trainers.
The homeless pair were later arrested. McDonald denied involvement while Brearley refused to answer police questions.
McDonald later admitted robbery. Brearley eventually admitted robbery, fraud and possessing an offensive weapon.
She has 40 previous convictions for 79 offences and had only been released from prison six weeks prior.
McDonald has 12 convictions for 33 offences. He was on a suspended sentence at the time of the robbery.
Mitigating for Brearley, Stephen Uttley said she has been on remand at HMP New Hall since her arrest and has overcome her drug addiction.
Mr Uttley added: “She expresses genuine remorse and accepts fully what she has done.”
For McDonald, Michael Walsh said although it was Brearley’s plan, he was a “willing participant”. He added: “He became fully involved and accepts that.”
He said that like Brearley, McDonald had overcome his drug addiction while being held in HMP Leeds and had put on a significant, healthy amount of weight.
Judge Mushtaq Khokhar told them: “It must have been not only frightening but a traumatic experience.”
He jailed Brearley for seven-and-a-half years telling her it was “her plan” and she was the “primary mover”.
He described McDonald as “muscle” and jailed him for 64 months. He activated eight months of his suspended sentence to run consecutively, making a total of 72 months.