Robber's victim, 80, was left bound and gagged

A ROBBER left an 80-year-old man gagged and tied up in his bedroom after stealing his cash and bank cards.

The victim had befriended Gary Dale Dobson and even lent him money in the past because he felt sorry for him, Leeds Crown Court heard.

But one night in October last year when Dobson called at his home and the pensioner asked for his latest loan of 90 to be repaid, Dobson produced a syringe telling him it was full of heroin.

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He then told his victim there was a gang waiting for him outside and stepped towards him, threatening him with the syringe and telling him he wanted his credit cards.

The pensioner handed over his wallet containing some cash and two bank cards, but Dobson then demanded the PIN number.

John Bull, prosecuting, told the court yesterday the pensioner tried to kick Dobson in the groin but failed and the robber told him: "That was silly, I want the money you have upstairs."

He produced some electric wire from his pocket and wrapped it round the man's hands telling him: "If you make the slightest move I'll jab you with the syringe."

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He then forced the pensioner upstairs into his bedroom where, after stealing 110, he took ties from the wardrobe. He used one to gag the victim and others, along with a dressing gown cord, to tie his ankles.

Dobson was in the house about an hour and a half before he eventually left his victim still tied up on his bed, switching off the light as he went. He did release the pensioner's dog which he had earlier shut in the bathroom.

Mr Bull said it took the pensioner an hour before he managed to work one of the ties loose and contact the police. By then Dobson had used the cards and the number he was given to withdraw 200 from his account.

Dobson, 45, of Dixon Lane, Wortley, Leeds, was given an indeterminate jail sentence for public protection after admitting robbery, false imprisonment, theft and a burglary on a later date in Shipley.

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Judge Scott Wolstenholme said he was satisfied he was dangerous. Having been a serial burglar in the past he said in 1996 Dobson was jailed for 10 years for robbery against an 82-year-old woman.

In that case he had broken into her home through a dormer window in the roof, woken her in bed, demanded her jewellery and even took a ring from her finger.

Although neither she nor the current victim had suffered physical injury either could have dropped dead from shock.

He said it did not take much imagination to realise the dreadful ordeal for the elderly man in this case "and the likelihood his final years will be darkened by the trauma of what you did to him."

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He ordered Dobson to serve a minimum of four-and-a-half years in jail before he can apply for parole but warned it would not be automatic and would be only when he was no longer considered a risk.

David McGonigal, for Dobson, said he had suffered an extremely unhappy childhood subjected to abuse.

He had a history of depression, addiction and self harm and had difficulty existing outside prison. He had indicated he wanted the money that night to get enough heroin to kill himself.

He also maintained the syringe contained lager not heroin.

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