Man robbed after travelling from Ireland to Sheffield to see World Snooker Championship, court told
A man was robbed in a Sheffield street after travelling to the city to watch the annual Snooker World Championship, a court heard.
The victim, from Ireland, ended up lost in the city centre and asked Aaron Hunter and two others for help to find his way back to his accommodation.
The trio guided him to where he was staying on Blonk Street but then Hunter, now aged 35, began asking him for cash, Sheffield Crown Court heard.
Explaining what happened on the evening of April 17, 2023, Paige Yellott, prosecuting, said: “When they arrived the defendant began asking for money.
“He said the complainant had wasted his time.”
Hunter then pushed the victim to the ground and while the others pinned him down he began ‘delivering blows’.
“He ripped his back jean pocket and took his wallet which contained cash,” Ms Yellott added.
It is understood that the wallet contained €250.
The victim was taken to A&E and suffered bruising to his left eye, scratches to the back of his hand, and had blood in his left ear.
The following day, Hunter then went to a police station and admitted to the assault, but denied taking any money.
He was later charged with robbery, to which he pleaded guilty, however ultimately failed to turn up for a sentencing hearing last year.
He was arrested in November 2025 and has remained in custody since then.
His defence barrister, Dale Harris, told the court: “This didn’t start as a targeted attempt to rob a lone individual.
“He genuinely attempted to find [the complainant’s] accommodation.”
Mr Harris explained that at the time his client was homeless and living on the streets.
In early 2025 Hunter attended a rehabilitation facility in Bradford, Mr Harris explained, and successfully stopped taking drugs.
However, upon leaving rehab he was made homeless once again, and then attempted to ‘arrange his affairs’ before his sentencing.
“He has not succumb to the temptation of drugs in prison, although they are available sadly,” the defence barrister continued.
In his sentencing remarks, Judge Graham Reeds KC said that Hunter had not displayed an ability to follow court orders.
“You have many previous convictions, including a conviction for robbery, albeit 17 years ago,” judge Reeds said.
“More recently, you have been convicted of battery and failure to follow a community order.
“I have no confidence given your record that you would comply with your suspended sentence order.”
Hunter was jailed for two years for the robbery, and a further four weeks for his failure to attend the previous sentencing hearing.