A STREET robber who spoke in court to express remorse and regret for his attack was told his apology amounted to “empty words” by a judge who jailed him for five years.

Drug addict Amraiz Rehman turned on a good Samaritan who had given him food whilst he was homeless  - after he sold the woman speakers that did not work.

When she asked for her money back he attempted to rob her by pushing her against a wall, punching her, and knocking her to the ground in the process.

In a lengthy statement read to Bradford Crown Court by prosecutor Esther Bukoye the victim said the incident on July 28, 2023, in Bradford city centre had left her feeling vulnerable, suspicious, and anxious to the extent that she had completely lost trust in people.

The court heard that Rehman, 44, who appeared via video link from HMP Leeds, had been “almost destitute” when he robbed the woman last summer.

Mitigating, Rachel Webster said the incident was “a theft gone wrong” involving a £20 snatching in which the victim grabbed Rehman and in doing so fell and cut her head.

And, reading a letter of apology to the victim and the court, Rehman said he did not mean to rob the victim but that the situation “escalated so fast” that before he knew what had happened, she was on the ground.

He said he regretted the injuries he had caused and pleaded for a lenient sentence.

Jailing Rehman for five years, His Honour Judge Roger Thomas KC had regard for his lengthy criminal past, which included convictions for theft, assault, possession of weapons, and two jail terms for robbery.

He said Rehman had accepted charity from the victim but the next day he had “bit the hand that fed you.”

He added: “You were intent on getting money from her for your drug misuse.

“When she gave evidence it was perfectly clear … [that] she was still in a state of considerable upset.

“You didn’t admit it. You ran off at the time and took this matter to trial.

“You profess to express some remorse and regret but those are very, very empty words indeed.

“They are a rather pathetic representation of the position that you now find yourself in.

“The probation service go as far as to say that you are in fact virtually victim-blaming [her].

“In my judgment, the proper sentence that needs to be passed here is a sentence of five years imprisonment, and that’s the sentence that you’ll have to serve.”