Hardened criminal claimed West Bromwich robbery was result of being spiked with mamba
A dangerous criminal who "could not remember" committing a violent robbery in West Bromwich after being spiked with mamba has been jailed.
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Carl Williams, aged 43, battered a cyclist in Bromford Lane on August 21 last year, before stealing his £1,400 electric scooter.
The prolific burglar was arrested shortly afterwards and remanded in custody to protect the public as he is a habitual violent offender.
Williams, of West Bromwich High Street, pleaded guilty to robbery but tried to explain away his behaviour by blaming a mystery stranger who drugged him with mild-altering mamba which altered his behaviour.
However, before Williams was sentenced for robbery at Wolverhampton Crown Court last week the spiking story was exposed as a pack of lies.
In mitigation, the court heard Williams had a a long history of substance abuse, which he had "recently turned a corner".
Judge Johnathon Butterfield KC sentenced Williams to four years and ten months. He also imposed an extended licence which will be another four years after his release from prison.
He said: "You initially gave an account of a cigarette being spiked with mamba and as a result you said you acted out of character and secondly meant you had no recollection of your offending."
He added: "This was not a credible account and profoundly inadequate as any basis of what happened."
Judge Butterfield told Williams his pre-sentence report showed he deserved a lengthy prison sentence, especially as he displayed no concern at being incarcerated again.
He said: "The risk you pose of serious harm to the public is considerable and could occur at any time, and the impact on the public would be serious. You displayed a wholly disproportionate amount of violence. You are dangerous and pose a serious risk of harm to the public."
Williams has a litany of previous crimes with over 30 convictions for robbery, burglary and assault.
Judge Butterfield said: "You have a bad criminal record, you have a large number of previous offences."
Williams has a long relationship with Sandwell Police who have issued more press releases about him than almost any other criminal.
In 2018, when Williams was on the run, Sandwell Police even posted him a special birthday message on social media.
They said: "We want Williams to know that we will be looking for him, especially tomorrow on his birthday and that we have reserved a stay for him in one of our lovely suites."
