Sheffield mugger wielded police-style baton at drugs customer

David Mitchell's victim paid £90 to a woman for cannabis and was asked to wait outside flats, near the Bath Hotel, on Convent Walk, just after midnight on January 17, last year.

He was told the drugs would be thrown down, but instead he was approached by Mitchell and another man, both wearing hoods, who demanded cash, said prosecutor Laura Marshall.

MItchell made off with the money while his co-accused stayed and searched the man, who had previously withdrawn £350 from a cashpoint.

CCTV from the communal area of the flats showed Mitchell demonstrating how to use the baton, but there was no evidence he struck his victim.

A security guard spoke to the victim after the attack and described him as being left "badly shaken."

Police attempted, but failed, to track down the victim in the Hull area.

Judge Graham Reeds QC sentenced the other man to two years and eight months in February.

Sheffield Crown Court heard Mitchell has ten previous convictions for 24 offences, dating back to 2003, which include dishonesty matters and burglary, as well as two prison sentences, in 2005 and 2014, for robbery.

He was also convicted of possessing a knuckle duster in September 2018, and failed to attend court in May 2019.

Andrew Nixon, mitigating, said there was no evidence that the victim suffered physical or psychological harm, and claimed he was more worried about how he would feed his cat after the robbery.

The court heard Mitchell had domestic problems at the time but has since tried to address his drug taking.

Mitchell, 43, currently of HMP Doncaster, pleaded guilty to robbery, failing to surrender and possession of an offensive weapon.

On Thursday, Judge Reeds told Mitchell: "You took advantage of your victim's gullibility and you went out to rob him.

“The CCTV shows he was intimidated when you swiped the baton. This was a joint offence."

He sentenced Mitchell to a total of four years, six months and 14 days.

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