A 34-YEAR-OLD man has been cleared of trying to rob two teenagers at gunpoint in Huddersfield.
But he was jailed for nine months after he admitted burgling a golf club while on bail.
During a trial at Bradford Crown Court it was alleged that William McLaughlin, of Blackmoorfoot Road, Crosland Moor, had produced what looked like a handgun from his trouser pocket after approaching a car containing musician Abraham Richards, 19, and his friend Joseph Haigh, who was then also 19.
McLaughlin denied having a gun during the incident at South Street, Paddock, last July. He claimed that he had only been involved in a bit of a struggle with the occupants of the car.
A jury yesterday returned not guilty verdicts on the two charges of attempted robbery and McLaughlin was also cleared on an allegation of possessing an imitation firearm with intent.
After the jury returned their verdicts it was revealed that in September, McLaughlin had burgled the West Bradford Golf Club while he was on bail for the earlier matters.
He damaged a door to the bar area of the clubhouse and stole three bottles of whisky.
McLaughlin has already served 173 days on remand in custody since the burglary and this will count towards the nine-month sentence.
