Robber who targeted disabled youth is jailed

The 16-year-old victim, who suffers from cerebral palsy and learning difficulties, was talking on his mobile phone while sitting with a friend on a wall outside a church in Stanningley, Leeds, in March last year when they saw two men approaching.

Catherine Silverton, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court yesterday that one of the men was Stephen Casey who told the teenager: "Give me your phone or you will get stabbed."

The teenager could see something pushing through Casey's pocket which he believed might be a knife and fearing he was going to be stabbed, told him: "I've got a disability."

The response from Casey was to say: "Well, so what," and he repeated his demand for money and also the rings the youth was wearing, she said.

The other man with Casey advised the teenager to do as he was told "or he will stab you" and so he then handed over the jewellery and the phone.

Miss Silverton said Casey then told him: "You grass on me and I will kill you and all your family."

Casey was subsequently arrested and eventually admitted being responsible after his brother was being blame..

He told officers he had been drinking cans of lager that day and "wanted to cause a bit of a ruck". He said he had later given the property back.

Casey, 22 of Bawn Gardens, Farnley, admitted robbery. Jailing him, Judge Alastair McCallum said he had targeted a vulnerable victim who believed he had a knife.

Philip Goldberg, for Casey, said he was not aware the teenager suffered from a disability until he stood up, but in his drunken state had decided to carry on anyway.

The property had been recovered after he was tracked to his home and was visited by family members of his victim.

He realised he had to accept his punishment and now planned to tackle his problems.