Jail for Wirral mobile phone thief

Aug 19 2009 by Chloe Griffiths, Birkenhead News

A THUG who tried to rob a stranger of his mobile phone is behind bars.

Christopher Norton, 21, had a string of convictions for assault, battery and witness intimidation and had only been out of prison 50 days when he targeted Mark Sands for his phone.

Mr Sands was texting on the mobile as he walked home along Borough Road, Birkenhead, at 3.10am on April 18, when Norton and a pal ran across the road and threatened him.

Geoffrey Fryar, prosecuting, said Norton grabbed him by the throat and ordered him to hand over the phone. He then put his hands down the waistband of his trousers as if to produce a weapon but he was stopped in his tracks when a police car passed.

Norton, of Henthorn Street, Prenton, fled, but was tackled to the ground by an officer.

He was carrying a cannabis grinder and a razor.

Paul Wood, defending, told how his client, who has ADHD, had downed a bottle of brandy before committing the “unsophisticated” attack.

Norton, who admitted attempted robbery, was jailed for 14 months at Liverpool Crown Court.

He added: “Unless he accepts help he will be back before these courts.”

Judge Nigel Gilmour QC expressed his surprise Norton had not been recalled on licence to serve the rest of his previous sentence after the incident.