Dad jailed after targeting taxi driver and sex workerA YOUNG dad has been jailed for stealing £20 from a prostitute – after he had given her the money to perform a sex act on him.
Timothy Smith approached the sex worker in Newcastle Street, Middleport, before the pair headed down an alleyway together.
But after the sex act had been performed, Smith told the prostitute, who cannot be named for legal reasons, that she should only have charged him £10.
He then got aggressive, grabbed the woman and took the £20 out of her jacket pocket before running off to a waiting car, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday.
Smith, aged 20, of Thursfield Walk, Norton, was arrested after the prostitute made a note of the vehicle's registration number and reported the incident to police.
Prosecuting, David Bennett said: "The defendant was interviewed by police but replied with no comment to all questions."
Mr Bennett told the court the prostitute failed to pick the defendant out at an identification parade, but the thief's DNA was found at the scene.
He added: "He was interviewed again and admitted having sex with the woman, but claimed she had given him the money back voluntarily."
Smith was jailed for seven months after pleading guilty to the theft, which happened on May 22.
He was also sentenced to a further 18 months in jail after admitting robbing a taxi driver of his takings on June 6, taking his total prison sentence to 25 months.
The court heard Smith, who has a young son, had paid taxi driver Mohammed Shazad £15 to take him home from Hanley at 4.30am after a night out.
But as they got closer to the destination, Smith directed him down a cul-de-sac where he told Mr Shazad the fare should only have been £8.
He then hit the taxi driver on the left side of his face and ran off with his takings bag, containing about £80.
Smith was arrested at his home five hours later and police recovered £41 in change from his jeans.
Anis Ali, mitigating for Smith, who has convictions for 25 offences, said the defendant had shown remorse over the two incidents.
He said: "He is a relatively young man who has had the courage to accept responsibility for the offences he has committed.
"He has had a number of difficulties and problems for the vast majority of his life, including behavioural and learning difficulties.
"However, he has shown genuine remorse towards his victims.
"Neither of the offences resulted in any injuries."
Smith's 51 days spent on remand will be deducted from his sentence.
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Da ... story.html
Login
Register
FAQ
