Man who knocked pensioner out of wheelchair and stole his benefits money jailed
A violent thug befriended an elderly pensioner and knocked him out of his wheelchair and stole his benefits money.
A violent thug befriended an elderly pensioner and knocked him out of his wheelchair and stole his benefits money, a court heard. Graham Haddow, 28, met 68-year-old Joseph Robertson at the block of flats they lived at in the Gorbals, Glasgow. They went to Maggie Mays pub at Argyle Street where Mr Robertson paid for their drinks before making their way to New Wynd Lane where the attack took place. Haddow put Mr Robertson into a choke hold and stole £150 from his pocket and threatened him not to phone the police. He tipped him out of his wheelchair and left him on the ground. He pled guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting Mr Robertson and robbing him on May 14, this year. Sheriff Martin Jones QC jailed Haddow for 22 months for his crime and said there was “no other appropriate disposal”. The court heard Haddow befriended Mr Robertson and they went drinking together with the pensioner paying for all of it. He had around £200 of benefits in his pockets when they were out. Procurator fiscal depute Mark Allan said: “They left the pub and the accused pushed Mr Robertson in his wheelchair to the nearby New Wynd. “On entering the New Wynd Lane the accused took hold of Mr Robertson’s neck in a choke hold. “Immediately Mr Robertson became fearful for his safety and the accused then said ‘I’m taking your cash’.” The court heard Haddow threatened that he would hurt the elderly man if he contacted the police. Mr Allan continued: “The accused then tipped Mr Robertson’s wheelchair causing him to fall to the ground and then made off leaving Mr Robertson on the ground. “Mr Robertson eventually managed to get himself up and made his way on to Trongate in an attempt to get some help.” He was helped by a man who contacted the police and the pensioner was taken to Glasgow city centre police office while investigations were made. Haddow was later found at his flat when the police were contacted to say he had returned home. Defence lawyer Jim Roberton said his client had done some washing and ironing for Mr Robertson earlier that day and he was taken for a drink to say thanks you. He claimed Mr Robertson was getting “carnaptious” but Haddow has no reason for doing what he did. The court heard Haddow is “ashamed of what he did”.