Robber threatened to slash victim's throat (From Wirral Globe)

Robber threatened to slash victim's throat

9:14am Monday 18th March 2013 in News

A 26-year-old man, who robbed a man knifepoint in Birkenhead was jailed for four years four months.

Liverpool Crown Court heard that Craig McCullagh had a nine-month suspended sentence hanging over him at the time imposed just two months earlier for ten burglary offences.

Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, said that the victim was on his way to Asda in the precinct when McCullagh, who was clearly under the influence of drink, beckoned him into a doorway.

McCullagh was agitated, banging his head on the wall and claiming to have buried his daughter that morning.

He also said, “I want to stab someone, I want to kill someone”.

He then lifted up his top and the terrified victim saw he had a knife in his waistband. McCullagh demanded a £1 coin and when he was given that demanded more threatening otherwise to slash the victim’s throat.

The victim explained he only had another £1 on him and the defendant grabbed his hand and punched him on the shoulder before walking off and shortly after accosting two young girls demanding money from them, said Mr Hopkins.

McCullagh, of Woodhey Court, Bebington, who was arrested nearby, pleaded guilty to robbery.

John Weate, defending, said that McCullagh had initially denied the offence but then “manned up” and changed his plea to guilty. His drinking had got out of hand and while in detention aged 18 had been introduced to illicit drugs which had also blighted his life.

Judge Brian Lewis sentenced him to 43 months for the robbery and ordered the suspended sentence to be activated to run consecutively.