Thug deserves every day of his jail term — judges

Reporter: by OUR COURT REPORTER
Date online: 11/06/2009

AN Oldham drug addict who attacked an 81-year-old man in his own flat for the measly sum of £10 deserves every day of his jail term, top judges ruled yesterday.

Tragic pensioner, Rupert Martinez, died within weeks of the attack. An Appeal Court judge said he had been robbed of his last few days of peace in his own home.

Imran Arif, of McDonough Close, Oldham, together with his co-accused Leanne Twist, forced open the door to Mr Martinez’s flat before Arif attacked him with a plank of wood with nails in it.

The attack left Mr Martinez, who had been enjoying a cup of tea, with an injured wrist. He was too terrified to go back to his flat after the ordeal which worsened an existing illness, the court in London heard. Shortly after the incident, Mr Martinez developed a kidney infection which caused his death.

Mr Justice Hickinbottom, who heard Arif’s appeal against his five-and-a-half-year jail term, said the 22-year-old had denied Mr Martinez the peaceful last few weeks of life he deserved.

Arif admitted robbery at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court in January.

Leanne Twist (23) also admitted robbery and was jailed for five years.

Barrister Jane Dagnall, for Arif, appeared before Mr Justice Hickinbottom, sitting with Lady Justice Hallett and Mr Justice Maddison, and argued that his sentence was too long.

But the judge disagreed, saying that Arif had used “gratuitous” violence on his vulnerable victim.

Mr Justice Hickinbottom refused the appeal, saying: “Although there is no suggestion that this incident contributed to Mr Martinez’s death, it is clear that as a result of this crime, in the last few months of his life, he was less comfortable, less well and less peaceful then he should have been.

“He was unable to go back to his flat as he was afraid to be there on his own. He was unable to spend any of his last weeks at home.

“This incident meant he lived the last few weeks of his life in fear and in poor health. He was entitled to feel safe in his home and to spend the last few weeks of his life there.

“Arif denied him that, as well as the small amount of money he took.”