Robber attacked stroke victim who withdrew cash from Leeds Post Office
A heartless robber attacked a frail man, whom he knew, to steal money he had just withdrawn from then Post Office.
John Guest targeted the man, who was recovering from a stroke, pushed him to the ground and snatched the cash from him.
The 52-year-old was jailed at Leeds Crown Court after admitting the robbery, and a previous robbery in which he took a man’s television.
The court heard that on July 13 last year, Guest had gone to the shared property on Harlech Avenue in Beeston where he told the man he owed money and he was there to collect it.
Bursting into the house, he walked into the man’s room, and took the television. When the man tried to stop him, Guest punched him to the face up to five times.
The victim later successfully identified Guest in a police identity parade.
On March 19 this year, his second victim was on his way to the Post Office on Carlton Parade in Little London, when he was accosted by Guest.
The pair knew each other because they had both accessed the same services while homeless.
Guest walked with the man to the Post Office, where the man withdrew £190 for a neighbour. Once he got the cash, Guest then began arguing with him about money.
He dragged the man to the floor and pinned him down, taking £180 of the £190 from him and threatened to “beat him up”, prosecutor Jordan Millican told the court.
After Guest fled, the man struggled to get to his feet, having previously suffered a stroke from which he was still recovering.
Guest, of no fixed address, was arrested and denied the TV robbery during his interview. He admitted knowing the man from the second robbery, but denied taking cash from him.
He later admitted both robberies. He appeared in court via video link from HMP Leeds, where he was being held on remand.
He has 19 previous convictions for 27 offences.
Mitigating, Leila Taleb said Guest’s life had spiralled out of control after a series of bereavements, including the tragic death of his young son.
She said he turned to drugs and chose to live on the streets, despite having a home.
She said Guest now just wanted to go back to his previous job at Arla Foods. She added: “He wants to get off drugs and get his life back on track.”
Judge Andrew Stubbs KC jailed him for six years.