Huddersfield drug addict stalked parents for son's £10k wedding cash

Jun 23 2009 By Huddersfield Examiner

A COUPLE who saved for 26 years to pay for their son's wedding were left devastated and shocked when a Huddersfield drug addict mugged them and stole the £10,000 they had just withdrawn from the bank.

Bradford Crown Court heard how 22-year-old Liam Black had stalked the couple after overhearing them withdrawing the money from a Natwest branch in Bradford in March.

Prosecutor Vincent O’Malley told the court that the cash was to pay for their son’s wedding reception, which is due to take place in August.

He said the victim, who worked as a cleaner, began saving when the son was born 26 years ago and the robbery had left the family shocked and devastated.

"They now both have to do two jobs to make up the loss of the money," Mr O’Malley told the court.

"The complainant said life had gone smoothly before the attack, but not now."

The victim, who did not want to be identified, was in court to see Black, of St James Way, Rawthorpe, jailed for 40 months after he admitted robbery.

Judge Roger Scott was told that it was hoped the wedding would still go ahead as planned.

Black was said to have been drawing less than £2 from is own bank account when he became aware of the transaction in the next booth.

City centre CCTV footage showed Black following his victim and the court heard that he had also contacted someone by phone to arrange for a getaway car to be available.

As the victim walked with her husband she suddenly felt Black pulling on the straps of her bag which she had over her shoulder.