A heroin addict who robbed a pensioner in his home while on the run for beating up a shopkeeper has been jailed for three years and seven months.

William Corbett, 35, of New Cross Street, West Bowling, Bradford, had jumped bail when the 72-year-old man took him in and gave him food and a £5 note, a Court heard.

Corbett snatched a wad of notes from his victim, pushing him to the floor, on December 2 last year. He struck just hours after stealing a mobile phone from a man at the hostel where he was in hiding.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that Corbett and an accomplice burst into a shop in Leeds Road, Bradford, on November 11. Both were hooded and carried iron bars.

They beat at the till with the weapons but were driven out of the shop by a student looking after the shop for his father.

Outside, the young man was violently assaulted until Corbett was grabbed and detained by brave members of the public.

He was charged and bailed but failed to attend court.

While at large, he abused the elderly man’s charity by stealing up to £190 from him.

Corbett asked the court to take into consideration eight further offences of theft and burglary of schools and factories while he was at large.

Judge John Potter sentenced him to 27 months’ imprisonment for causing actual bodily harm and possessing an offensive weapon, four months for stealing the phone and 12 months for robbery. All the sentences to run consecutively.

Corbett’s barrister, Stephen Uttley, said he had no previous convictions for violence. He had been a drug addict for 20 years but while on remand in prison he had stopped taking illegal substances.

Mr Uttley said Corbett was working hard in prison in a bid to start a new life on his release.

After the case, Detective Inspector Mark Long said: “Incidents of robbery in Bradford are taken extremely seriously and are thoroughly investigated.

“As a direct result of some focused work by officers in this case, a comprehensive package of evidence was collated which has resulted in today’s outcome.

“This should send out a clear message to others that if you involve yourself in such offences, you will be brought before the courts and you will face the consequences.”

  • Read the full story in Tuesday's T&A