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.

At the time of the robbery in March, Johnson was already on bail for brandishing a knife at supermarket staff after he was suspected of a shoplifting offence.

Yesterday Johnson was jailed for three years on the robbery matter with an additional six months for possessing an offensive weapon relating to the knife incident in October last year.

McCord, of Birch Grove, Golcar, also pleaded guilty to the robbery offence and received a three-year prison term.

“The victim of the robbery for which you jointly fall to be sentenced was a 76-year-old man who seems to have been a bit of a character in the local area, well-known and well-liked,” Judge Benson told the pair.

“He was out going about his lawful business shopping in the locality and you, both heroin addicts, decided, it seems obvious to me, that he was an easy and vulnerable target and you set about him.

“If these courts exist for any reason it is to protect 76-year-olds who are going around the streets carrying out their shopping activities. When two young men, for no better reason than the need for money to feed a habit, attack a vulnerable person in that position then I consider that activity both cowardly and wicked beyond belief.

“It seems to me that must result in an immediate custodial sentence of some significant length. I’d like to pass a much longer sentence, but I have to have regard to the sentencing guidelines.”

The court heard that father-of-two Johnson had 43 previous convictions for a variety of offences while McCord had 37 offences on his record.

Johnson’s barrister James Keeley said his client was filled with “utter revulsion” at what he had done.

McCord’s barrister Peter Hampton said he was disgusted at his behaviour.