'Good Samaritan' ended up robbing victim of gang attack

A "GOOD Samaritan" pretending to help the victim of a gang attack in Tamworth turned into a mugger who robbed the injured man.

The victim was beaten up by a group of five men outside a the petrol station in Glascote Road after being chased along the street.

Mr Pat Sullivan, prosecuting, told Stafford Crown Court: "When he got up, Stephen Knibbs approached and acted like a Good Samaritan and walked him along the road.

"Then Knibbs's mood changed, asking him for money and telling him to empty his pockets."

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The defendant implied he had a knife and told the man "don't you believe me – I'll cut you". [The man] struggled free and sought safety in the garage."

Police arrested Knibbs, who had been drinking, close to the garage.

Only minutes earlier, 19-year-old Knibbs had been involved in a robbery attack on another man in Glascote Road.

That victim was on his way home from work when he was confronted by a gang.

He tried to flag down a passing car for help, but he was punched, pushed to the ground and kicked.

As he lay on the ground one of the group grabbed a rucksack from the victim's back. He attempted to fight back, lashing out and pushing off the attackers.

Knibbs, from Lomita Crescent, who admitted one charge of robbery and asked for another [on the first victim] to be considered, was sent to youth custody for a total of 32 months. Judge Simon Tonking told him: "You took advantage of a vulnerable victim because you knew he had just been beaten up.

"You had seen that and you were apparently helping him, but then you turned from being helpful to taking advantage of the situation, threatening him, pretending you had a knife and it that way letting you search his pockets and stealing from him some loose change."

Mr Mark Moore, defending, said: "My client is an intelligent man – he has taken A levels – what is evident that when life takes a turn for the worse, regrettably he gives up on many things.

"His behaviour was triggered by the ending of a relationship and a sudden increase in the consumption of alcohol."