Captured in the Chronicle . . . shopped by his aunt

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A MAN who robbed a 13-year-old boy of his mobile phone was caught after his aunt read about the crime in the Evening Chronicle.

The community-minded relative forced the thief to own up and hand himself in to police after recognising a photograph of him and an appeal for information.

Benjamin Lucas Snailham (20), of Victoria Street, Lees, admitted robbery at a court hearing. At Minshull Street Crown Court yesterday, he was sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.

Snailham robbed the teenager to pay off a drugs debt — but hadn’t contended with the publicity from the Chronicle and his forceful aunt.

The young victim was robbed of his phone after he and a friend got on the 184 bus in Lees at about 8.40pm on January 20. Snailham followed them on to the bus.

A few minutes later, the teenager’s friend got off and he was sitting alone until he also got off on Shaw Road, closely followed by Snailham.

He continued to follow the youngster and eventually walked in front of him and confronted him on a car park, demanding his mobile phone and claiming he could do it “the easy way or the hard way”.

Panicking, the teenager put his black Samsung Tocco on the floor and Snailham kicked it to one side before picking it up and running off.

Greater Manchester Police released CCTV pictures of Snailham following the robbery and an appeal to help track the thug responsible.

PC Tejharpal Singh said: “Snailham’s case is a perfect example of what can happen when you get involved in drugs.”