Jail for OAP muggers caught by Huddersfield have-a-go heroes

Oct 15 2008 by Andrew Hirst, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

TWO drug addicts who admitted involvement in the “cowardly” street mugging of a 76-year-old man have each been jailed for three years.

Well-known local character Fred Wood had been visiting a relative in hospital, but after he got off a bus in the Waterloo area of Huddersfield he was approached by 32-year-old Trevor Johnson who engaged him in conversation.

Prosecutor Nigel Hamilton told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that when Mr Wood said he was going, Johnson and another unknown attacker grabbed his arms.

Mr Hamilton said the pensioner struggled with the men as they tried to go through his pockets and when his wallet fell to the ground, 37-year-old former soldier James McCord took it.

Johnson, of Bargate, Linthwaite, was chased and caught by passers-by and although he claimed to have suffered broken ribs while he was being detained, Judge Peter Benson said the court had little sympathy for him.

The court heard that Johnson had picked up a syringe which he used to make threats and ward people off.