Burnley drunk jailed for four years (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Burnley drunk jailed for four years

9:31am Friday 3rd February 2012 in Blackburn By Wendy Barlow, Court reporter

A DRUNK who terrorised and robbed a 64-year-old man in his own home has been jailed for four years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Mark Smith, 40, had grabbed victim Alan Perry by the throat and held him against a wall until he gasped for breath.

He threatened him and made him remove a treasured ring, which he then stole.

Smith had been at the flat above the victim’s and was said to have gone down to remonstrate after Mr Perry had been banging on the ceiling because of noise.

He was arrested in the property upstairs not long after, wearing the ring.

The defendant, of Grange Street, Burnley, admitted robbery, last September 10.

David Macro, prosecuting, said Mr Perry, who is retired, was sitting in his living room at about 10.30am, when he heard a knock on the door.

The defendant, who he had never seen before, was stood there and said: “Are you having trouble upstairs?”

Mr Perry said he wasn’t, but Smith forced his way in, grabbed the victim by the throat, held him against a wall, but then let go and ordered Mr Perry take his glasses off.

The victim refused and Smith followed him into the lounge and told him: “You won’t be telling the police or the council about upstairs and you won’t be bothering them again.”

The victim said he wouldn’t.

Mr Macro said Smith threatened to ‘kick Mr Perry’s head in’ if there were any more complaints about the upstairs neighbours.

He again tried to remove the victim’s rings and Mr Perry took one off and gave it to him.

Police went to the flat above, where the occupant them gave Smith’s name and said he had gone. The defendant then turned up and was arrested. He had a record dating back to 1990.

Joe Boyd, for Smith, said he had never been to custody before, he was alcohol dependent and it would be a very difficult sentence.

Sentencing, Judge Beverley Lunt told the defendant the offence was not a street mugging, but a violent personal robbery in the victim’s own home.