Jailed: Addict who tailed and robbed pensioner to pay off drug debt

The victim had got off a bus from Wolverhampton city centre and walked through the Avion Centre in Whitmore Reans before crack addict Mark Donaldson started to follow him.

The 45-year-old prolific criminal slipped into the multi storey flats block behind the elderly man before the key code operated front door closed. Donaldson joined him in the lift and got out at the same floor, the city's Crown Court heard.

"The man went into his flat and as he closed the front door behind him, it was flung open and the defendant entered, " explained Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting.

"The man froze with shock and was pushed backwards into the hallway. He fell and was extremely frightened. As he managed to get back to his feet Donaldson said to him: 'I want money.'"

The victim, who had lived in the flat for more than 20 years, handed over some cash but was forced to empty his pockets when the robber ruled the first offering was not enough.

Donaldson, who had 29 previous convictions for 86 offences and was in debt to drug dealers, then fled. Police recognised the culprit from footage taken by CCTV cameras in the area during the July 28 robbery.

Mr Andrew Mitchinson, defending, said: "He has been in an out of prison throughout his life and was using cannabis since the age of 19. He was also taking crack cocaine at the time of the offence.

"He owed £190 to drug dealers. This was an opportunistic robbery to get money.

"He was under pressure to pay off what he owed, saw the victim going into the flats and saw an opportunity.

"No weapons were used and there was only minimal force but it must have been a frightening experience for the victim."

Donaldson from Tettenhall Road, Parkdale pleaded guilty to the July 28 robbery in which the victim suffered a bruised arm and injured back.

He had committed a carbon copy crime in 2008 when he burst in to the home of a 77-year-old man, knocked him to the ground with punches to the face and escaped with £40.

Recorder Denis Desmond told him: "You targeted a vulnerable old man who was alone in the flat where he had lived for decades. It must have been a terrifying experience for him and as a result feels very insecure in his own home."