Thief stole £1,100 from man on a mobility scooter after giving him a hug
A man who stole more than £1,000 from a disabled man on a mobility scooter has been jailed for four years.
Andrew Merritt, 34, was caught on CCTV committing the heinous act after initially asking the asked the 88-year-old if he could spare some change.
The pensioner was filmed taking out his wallet and giving Merritt £3.10, after which Merritt hugged the man.
The thief snatched the elderly man’s wallet while hugging him, before walking away smiling as the man begged for it back.
Merritt then began to count the amount of cash he had taken from the pensioner, before dumping the wallet nearby.
CCTV also showed Merritt trying to change shirts in the doorway of a house, to ‘avoid detection’.
Nottingham Crown Court heard Merritt stole £1,100 in the August 1 robbery in Potter Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire.
Days later, Merritt was arrested while lying on his bed after a police officer recognised him from the shocking robbery footage.
After his arrest, the thief denied stealing the money and claimed the disabled man had purchased a bike from him.
Later, he changed his tune and admitted to the daylight robbery, resulting in a four-year prison sentence.
He was also given a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from Worksop town centre for four years and ordered to pay a £228 victim surcharge.
Merritt has a long list of previous convictions – 118 offences, including theft, shoplifting, assault, breaching court orders and burglaries.
Detective chief inspector Nick Hall, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: ‘Merritt’s actions were cowardly in the extreme.
‘He preyed on a vulnerable man knowing he would not be able to stop him making off with his money.
‘When he asked for £2, the elderly victim gave him that and more, out of the goodness of his heart.
It was a kind act of generosity and so it was staggering that Merritt repaid the gentleman’s empathy by robbing him of such a vast amount of money.
“It was an extremely cruel crime and I am pleased Merritt has been made to pay for his appalling actions.’
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