Phone thug caught after e-fit in Chronicle

A DRUNKEN robber who stole a student’s mobile phone as she stood at a bus stop in Oldham, was caught after an e-fit picture of him appeared in the Oldham Evening Chronicle.

Ricky Martin (21), attacked Katy Haynes, after a two-hour early morning boozing session on beer and vodka.

Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court was told that the 19-year old student had been waiting for a bus on Turf Lane, Oldham, when she was spotted by Martin, as she texted a friend on her mobile phone.

Mark Angus prosecuting, said she suddenly felt two hands grab the £200 mobile, but she was determined to hang on to it.

He wrestled with her, telling her “Give me the phone” but she kept a desperate grip on it.

Martin, of Ruthin Close, Oldham, used more and more force, pulling her on to a grass verge, where she lost her balance and fell to the ground, letting go of the mobile, which he grabbed and ran off.

Ms Haynes who had been on her way to university at the time of the incident shortly before midday on May 24, was able to give police officers a good description of her attacker, and a likeness of him was later published in the Chronicle.

Martin was subsequently recognised by someone who knew him, and police arrested him.

In interview, he immediately admitted what he had done, and said he had been drinking from 9.30 in the morning with a friend, and had been dared to steal the phone.

The court was told that his victim said in a statement to police that she now felt paranoid about using a mobile phone in public, and felt humiliated that he had been able to take it from her so easily.

Steven Wild, defending, said his client who pleaded guilty to a single charge of robbery, fully accepted he had been extremely stupid, and was genuinely remorseful.

Martin, who has a two-year-old son, and works as an assistant to a delivery driver, was given an eight-month prison sentence suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 80 hours unpaid work in the community.

He was also ordered to pay £400 compensation to his victim.

Judge Jonathan Geake told him: “I cannot understand the mentality of someone like you.

“You could not possibly complain if I had locked you up.

“You subjected this young woman to an extremely unpleasant experience, and you were aggressive and forceful, but at least you didn’t try to spin it out by pleading not guilty.”