A STUDENT was left shaken after he was robbed at “knife-point” by a mugger.
Scott McLeary threatened the 20-year-old victim, saying he had a knife, as he demanded his wallet and cash after seeing him withdraw money from a cashpoint in St Mary’s Street.
At the time of the robbery, on February 4, McLeary was accompanied by an identified male.
McLeary, 42, and the unknown male made contactless payments amounting to £15, with the victim’s bank card.
Prosecutor Daniel Sawyer said the student withdrawn cash before going into a convenience store to purchase snacks.
“When he left the store, McLeary began in the victim’s words ‘eyeing him up’ before asking him if he had change for a £10 note,” Mr Sawyer said.
“The student said ‘No’ and walked away but was then pushed against a wall by McLeary who demanded his wallet. The defendant said he had a knife but did not pull it out.”
He added: “The student gave the wallet but asked for his ID cards and they were given back to him.”
The court heard that the episode had left the victim “shaken up” and “scared”.
Following his arrest McLeary, who pleaded guilty to robbery and fraud, had been due to appear at Southampton Crown Court
on Monday, April 9, but failed to do so.
He was later picked up on a police warrant and appeared at the court last Friday.
The court heard that McLeary had 47 previous convictions for 116 offences, 59 of which were related to thefts.
Mitigating, Brian Sharman told the court that McLeary had spent most of his life on the streets in Southampton and that he had problems with drug addiction.
McLeary, of no fixed abode, was sentenced to two years imprisonment.
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