Heroin addict jailed for attack on wheelchair man

By rbridge

A WALSALL drug addict who tried to rob a 61-year-old wheelchair-bound man has been put behind bars for four years.

Judge Michael Challinor told Steven Griffiths: "You deliberately targeted this elderly man because you hoped you would not have to use much force to overwhelm him, but that made what you did no less terrifying.

"When you attack someone in a wheelchair, you risk causing further damage to someone who is already infirm."

Griffiths had a previous conviction for assault with intent to rob and, at the time of the offence, was the subject of a Community Order for stealing from his sister. The judge told him: "You, and others like you, must understand that if you attack vulnerable people in the street, you can expect no mercy."

Griffiths, aged 32, of Wolverhampton Street, Darlaston, admitted assaulting Trevor Perry with intent to rob.

The judge ruled that his licence on release from custody should be increased to ten years.

Judge Challinor told the heroin addict that it was clear he posed a significant risk of committing further offences.

Mrs Kanwal Juss, prosecuting, said that Mr Perry was in Walsall Road in his wheelchair when Griffiths, who had 40 previous convictions for dishonesty, asked him for money.

He then grabbed a set of keys being held by Mr Perry but there was a struggle, which was spotted by a member of the public, and Griffiths ran off.

Mr Christopher O'Gorman, defending said Griffiths was "desperate" for heroin and he accepted it was an extremely mean offence against a vulnerable person.

"There was no excuse whatsoever for his behaviour," said Mr O'Gorman, who added that Griffiths had started using drugs before he left school.