Robber in on-bail attack locked up

A ROBBER has been locked up for five-and-a-half years after a judge heard he attacked a shopkeeper while on bail for an earlier offence.

Sarbast Karim first struck soon after midnight on May 10 last year when a pizza shop proprietor was attacked at his car in Bradford Road, Dewsbury while taking home about 700 takings.

The victim, Hassan Aden, thought there were two men but Karim later told police there were three. Mr Aden was struck and forced to lie across the driver and passenger seats while one of them searched his pockets.

As he tried to fight back one of them produced a knife and thrust it towards him before they made off with the money.

Karim was traced because his fingerprints were found on the victim’s car and said he had received 145 of the proceeds. He later denied knowing anything about a knife.

David Garnett prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court yesterday that on December 22 shopkeeper Mohammed Safdar was about to close his premises in Lockwood Road, Huddersfield about 11.20pm when Karim entered and grabbed hold of him, pulling him to the floor.

An accomplice, Sardep Abdullah then entered and went to the till, stealing about 104.

Karim, 20, of Great Northern Street, Huddersfield, admitted both robberies and was sent to a young offender institution for five-and-a- half years.

Abdullah, also 20, of Corby Street, Huddersfield who admitted the shop robbery, was given two years in a young offender institution.

Alasdair Campbell for Karim said he had expressed genuine remorse for his actions.