Mugger stabbed victim with syringe and threatened rape
A mugger who stabbed a woman in the arm with a syringe has been jailed for five years.
James Phillips also threatened to rape his victim before stealing £20 and her mobile phone.
Only minutes before, Phillips had threatened a couple walking through Stafford town centre saying: "Give me £50 or I'll stab you with a needle."
The defendant got nothing from them, but by coincidence, they saw Phillips robbing the woman as they drove home.
Phillips, aged 38, of Cardinal Way, Stafford, admitted one charge of robbery and two of attempted robbery.
Stafford Crown Court heard that at the time of the offences on October 4 last year, he was out of jail on licence for robbing a Stoke-on-Trent newsagent using a hammer.
Mr Ben Close, prosecuting, said Phillips had approached the couple around 2.30am in Stafford and demanded £50 before being pushed away.
A few minutes later the couple saw a woman on the floor at the rear of Marks & Spencer with Phillips standing over her, so they intervened again.
The woman later said she was walking home when the defendant, riding a push bike, began circling her, threatening to stab her if she didn't give him some cash.
She lost her balance and fell over and as the defendant came towards her, she felt a sharp pain in her forearm. Phillips then threatened to rape her.
A medical examination revealed a small puncture wound in her arm, said Mr Close.
Mr Paul Cliff, defending, said police found Phillips slumped in the street around 3.30am. He had been out drinking following a dispute with his father and someone had given him diazepam.
"There follows an hour of absolute madness on his part. He has very limited recollection of events."
