Jail for addict's robbery (From Dudley News)

Jail for addict's robbery

9:44am Friday 11th August 2006

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A DANGEROUS Netherton drug addict has been put behind bars for nearly seven years after carrying out a string of armed robberies.

Michael Hogan threatened a terrified 61-year-old woman after she had just withdrawn £500 from a cashpoint in Halesowen Road.

He took the money from Judith Davenport before stealing her car, leaving the pensioner badly shaken, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 22-year-old was also in a car that shunted the back of a vehicle being driven by Lucy Newman and, when she got out to investigate the damage, he held a knife to her throat and threatened violence.

The unfortunate woman was then bundled to the ground by Hogan and a second man before she too was robbed of her £3,000 car, said Stephen Bailey, prosecuting.

He told the court how the defendant also tricked his way into the flat of teenager Lee Neville in Cradley Heath before robbing him of two mobile telephones and cash as he threatened to `have him killed'.

The defendant, of Gloucester Road, admitted the three robberies and was jailed for a total of six years and nine months.

Judge Nicholas Webb told him he had targeted his victims in what were `pre-planned' crimes.

He said Mrs Davenport had been badly affected by the robbery while his second female victim had been subjected to violence and forced to make her way home on foot.

He added: "These were serious robberies and they are the sort of robberies the courts are determined to stamp out."

Simon Phillips, defending, said Hogan had shoplifted to fund his heroin habit but he had `clearly taken a step up the ladder' with the robberies.

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