Addict pair locked up for robbing man of bike

Leeds Crown Court heard yesterday the victim had borrowed the valuable bike from a friend to get to an appointment but in Aire Street, Knottingley, was suddenly jumped by Liam Eccles and Louis Roebuck, whom he recognised.

Roebuck grabbed him from the front but when he managed to push him away Eccles ran up to him and began hitting him over the head with a stick.

Deborah Smithies prosecuting said Roebuck put the cyclist in a headlock while Eccles struck him repeatedly. He was dragged off the bike and kicked before one of the robbers got on the cycle.

When the victim tried to follow he was again attacked, this time when he got free he ran off and sought help.

Roebuck was on bail for the robbery when he stole some copper piping and committed two burglaries.

In one he stole a valuable remote control car from a garage in Arncliffe Drive, Knottingley and in the other he went in at night and took a laptop and digital camera among other items from a house in Dulverton Rise, Pontefract.

While on remand in prison Eccles was seen by police and admitted a series of burglaries under the “clean slate” scheme.

Roebuck, 20 of no fixed address was sent to a young offender institution for five years after he admitted robbery, theft and burglary.

Eccles, 21 of Pontefract Road, Knottingley, was jailed for five years after he admitted robbery and asked for 16 other offences of burglary and theft to be taken into consideration.

Judge Geoffrey Marson QC told them it was terrible for householders to wake up in the morning and discover they had been burgled while they slept.

He heard Roebuck helped get the bike back and both men had now addressed their drug problem.