Bragging robber caught after giving his name when he sold stolen phone

A ROBBER who attacked a man in the street and stole his phone was caught when he sold the stolen item and left his details.

Reese Tomlinson, 21, attacked and robbed his victim as he walked home from a night out.

Tomlinson left his victim shaken up and suffering from head injuries.

The robber had cycled up behind David Perrin, 42, as he walked home from a night out in Holderness Road, east Hull.

Tomlinson shouted to him "all right, mate". Mr Perrin looked at Tomlinson but ignored him and carried on walking.

Tomlinson then got off his bike and attacked Mr Perrin from behind.

Prosecutor Jeremy Evans told Hull Crown Court: "The next thing, the defendant jumped on his back, dragging him to the floor, and said to him 'you have a mobile phone and I'm having it'."

Tomlinson pushed Mr Perrin face down on to the ground, sat astride him and took his phone from his pocket.

The victim suffered grazing to his head and arms.

The next day, Tomlinson took the stolen phone to Cash Express in Holderness Road and sold it for £155.

Mr Evans added: "The defendant rather stupidly left his details."

Tomlinson was arrested and claimed the phone had been sold to him the night before, but when his family were interviewed, they told the police he had been "bragging and boasting" about committing a robbery.

Tomlinson pleaded guilty to robbery and fraud.

His solicitor, Geoff Ellis, said: "He accepts that, after words were spoken, he struck the complainant. He knows he shouldn't have done it but it is not something he thinks about in a normal, logical manner. He doesn't know why he took the phone afterwards.

"He took it to a store later and sold it on.

"He receives a significant amount of money through benefits and the reasoning behind the offence is quite strange and he is at a loss to see why he has done it.

"He has expressed remorse. He was not aware of the full extent of the injuries.

"He was shocked when he saw the extent of the injuries and is apologetic.

"If he could turn the clock back then he certainly would."

He told the court his client had grown up in care and in mental health institutions and was "terrified" of custody and being confined again.

Tomlinson has previous convictions including assaults, handling stolen goods, possessing drugs and arson.

The Honorary Recorder of Hull and the East Riding Judge Michael Mettyear, jailed him for 18 months.

The judge told him: "You are still young but you have a terrible record.

"You keep committing offences.

"Your sentences will get longer and longer.

"When you start committing criminal offences as serious as this, different considerations apply.

"It is to your credit you have pleaded guilty. This is a serious offence and needs a serious sentence."

Tomlinson, of Bodmin Road, east Hull, was also ordered to pay a victims' surcharge.