Alley robber jailed over rape threat

Mark Watkinson squeezed the neck of the victim with one hand and put the other in her mouth after ordering her to empty her pockets, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

Mr Mark Phillips, prosecuting, said: "She was terrified, genuinely believing he would carry out his threat."

The woman was then pushed to the ground and had her tracksuit bottoms pulled down in the alleyway off Dalkeith Street, in Walsall on the evening of September 18 last year, continued the lawyer.

The 30-year-old defendant stamped on the stomach and ribs of the victim, it was claimed.

Her cries for help were heard by a man living in the street who went to the rescue armed with a broom.

Watkinson warned he had a knife and fled but was recognised by another person who saw him through their window as he ran past, continued Mr Phillips.

The next day Watkinson stole the mobile phone of a 21-year-old man in Carless Street, Caldmore and two days later robbed a student of a phone in the same road after warning he would 'smash in' the face of the victim if he tried to follow him.

On both occasions he kept the phone after tricking the victim into letting him use it to make an 'urgent' call.

He was arrested on September 27 and confessed that the phones had been sold for money to buy drugs.

Mr Andrew Wilkins, defending, said: "When not in the grip of drugs he is a likeable, hard working man who shows real promise if he can defeat the addiction that is behind his offending."

Watkinson from Lysway Street, Walsall, who had 33 previous convictions involving 95 separate crimes, admitted robbery, attempted robbery theft and indecent assault.

He was jailed for four years by Judge Robin Onions.

Mr Onions said: "You habitually steal phones from people by making off with them after asking to use them.

"You tend to target young people because they are likely to have access to the most up to date technology.

"In addition the sexual assault was an unpleasant offence."