Thugs robbed man walking his dog
A dog owner was brutally attacked and robbed while out walking his dog in Staffordshire, a judge heard.
Colin Beeston and Shaun Whittingham set on Andy Percival, who was punched and kicked before being robbed of £30.
When he tried to get away he was chased and floored again, Stafford Crown Court was told.
Beeston, aged 27, of Littleton Crescent, Penkridge, was jailed for 20 months while Whittingham, 18, of Bushbury Lane, Wolverhampton was given 10 months young offender custody suspended for two years. Both of them admitted a charge of robbery.
Recorder Mr David Mason QC told them: "Mr Percival was minding his own business, out walking his dog, when he was set upon on the spur of the moment. It was a very nasty attack in which he was punched and kicked."
Mr Adam Watkins, prosecuting, said the robbery took place around teatime on March 15 this year.
He said the instigator was Beeston, who, without warning, approached Mr Percival and punched him in the face.
The victim curled up on the floor to protect himself and he felt people trying to get in to his pockets whilst being kicked and punched.
He got up and tried to escape, pursued by Beeston, whom he managed to fling to the floor, but was then himself knocked over again with Whittingham kicking him to the body.
He heard someone shout 'where's your wallet? Where's your cash?" After the kicking had stopped he found £30 had been stolen from his wallet and also his house keys, said Mr Watkins.
The defendants were arrested later the same day. Beeston made no comment, but officers later found the missing house keys at his home. Whittingham claimed it had all been his co-accused's idea.
The court heard that Beeston had a string of previous convictions for violent offences, but Whittingham had just one for a minor drugs offence.
Mr Neil Gerrity, for Beeston, said: "It wasn't premeditated, he hadn't intended it to be a robbery from the outset. My client has had a long troubled history with drink and drug abuse."
Miss Elizabeth Power, defending Whittingham, said he had disassociated himself from the peer group he was with when the robbery happened.
