A good Samaritan was robbed by two thugs after trying to help one of them.
Leeds Crown Court heard the victim Thomas Hall had a drink after work and returned to his flat in Bishops Court, Berry Brow around 9.30pm on August 28 last year.
Mehran Nassiri prosecuting said to get to his flat Mr Hall had to pass the home of William Smith and saw he had his door open and was in tears.
He went in to ask if he was okay and noticed there were broken glasses on the floor and clothes scattered around. The court heard he was upset because he and his girlfriend had finished after a row.
Mr Hall offered to help him tidy up and was doing so when Nicholas Berry walked into the flat. At that point Smith accepted he put his arms around his neighbour’s neck pulling him to the floor, choking him.
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He was struggling to breath and Smith told him: “The best thing you can do is hand over your phone.”
Mr Nassiri said Berry checked Mr Hall’s pockets and removed his Samsung phone worth £600 along with some change and a debit card.
At some point the pair then demanded the PIN number for the card and when Mr Hall refused Smith punched him three times. His bag was searched and Armani aftershave was also stolen before the pair ran off.
Mr Hall then reported what had happened. He had a cut lip and pain in his jaw.
Tom Rushbrooke representing Smith said he had a longstanding problem with amphetamines and described himself as “in a bad place” at the time of the offence.
He had rowed with his girlfriend and they had split up which was why he was in tears. The offence was not planned and he was remorseful and ashamed of his actions towards Mr Hall.
Jeremy Barton for Berry said he had previously been diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic and at that time was off his medication. While on remand he had seen medical staff at the prison and was back on his medication and stable.
Smith, 36 and Berry, 20, of no fixed address, both admitted robbery and were each sentenced to 21 months in prison.
Judge Tom Bayliss QC said Mr Hall went into the flat to help Smith. “While he was in there acting as a good Samaritan you and Berry robbed him. It does not really matter who did what.”
