Brave victim sees mugger jailed

A mugger who attacked a reveller as he withdrew cash in Wolverhampton city centre has been jailed for more - after the victim grabbed his leg until police arrived.

Debt consultant Jory Osborne, aged 21, was part of a gang of yobs that pounced on Richard Harris, dragged him into an alleyway and beat him up for his wallet, after he made a withdrawal from a cashpoint.

Osborne's gang had spotted Mr Harris and friend Andrew Edwards near the cashpoint in Queen Square.

They thought they were "easy targets," said Miss Sharonjit Bahia, prosecuting, at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

One of Osborne's group shouted to Mr Edwards and asked if he had the time and what his name was, the court was told yesterday.

The pair walked away from the group towards the former Rothwell's bar in the direction of Oceana in Bilston Street, but the gang followed and grabbed Mr Harris and dragged him into an alleyway.

He was kicked to his body and head and patted down before £140, bank cards and his driver's licence were snatched from him.

Mr Harris managed to hold on to Osborne's leg as two other members of the group threatened to stab Mr Edwards, the court heard.

A passing police patrol arrested Osborne, but the other gang members involved in the robbery, which happened at around 2.30am on January 16 last year, have never been caught.

Osborne, of Wheatcroft Grove, Dudley, admitted robbery and was said by his lawyer to have now put his life in order and hoped to complete a computer course at Hillcrest Sixth Form college in Bartley Green, Birmingham.

Jailing Osborne for 42 months, Judge Martin Walsh said Mr Harris had identified him as one of those who "inflicted violence."

Judge Walsh said: "Richard Harris had been enjoying a night out in Wolverhampton.

"He was grabbed from behind, dragged into an alleyway dragged to the ground and attacked."