Leeds thief ‘congratulated’ for reaching 100 crimes on his record for robbing electric bike
Judge jailed him claiming there was little hope of rehabilitation
A violent criminal who attacked a man to steal his electric bike has been jailed, with the judge sarcastically praising him for reaching an unwelcome landmark.
Danny Bucknall admitted a charge of robbery, attacking the victim with a plank of wood in Armley, Leeds Crown Court heard.
Judge Ray Singh told him: “Congratulations, you have reached a particular milestone and shown the sort of individual you are - thoroughly dishonest and violent.”
The court heard that the victim had parked his bike outside a shop on Tong Street in Armley at around 4.45pm on August 31.
He did not lock it up because he was only inside for a brief moment, but in that time, Bucknall had taken hold of the bike and rode off.
The man left the shop and chased him down the street, prosecutor Ciara Church said.
Bucknall stopped on Bruce Lawn to disconnect the battery and the victim tried to grab the bike back.
A tussle ensued with Bucknall telling the man to “prove” it was his bike.
He punched the man several times to the face and threw him to the floor, before kicking him to the head.
The victim was able to get to his feet but Bucknall continued to attack him, even using a plank from a nearby fence to strike him.
Bucknall then rode away on the bike.
Bucknall, 44, was identified from CCTV footage and arrested a day later. He refused to answer police questions.
Mitigating, Rachel Webster said of the robbery: “He did not intend for it to get out of hand as it did.”
She said the father-of-three was remorseful is is “effectively crying out for help and support”.
Ms Webster said Bucknall, of Baileys Crescent, Seacroft, fears he is schizophrenic claiming he “hears voices”, and self medicates with illegal drugs.
She also said he thinks he has ADHD or a personality disorder.
But Judge Singh laid into Bucknall, telling him he “had the audacity” to repeatedly attack the bike owner while shouting at him to prove he was the owner.
He jailed him for four years and six months.