A young bandit who savagely mugged a 68-year-old

A young bandit who savagely mugged a 68-year-old company boss has
been jailed for four years.

Ian Eaton, 20, squirted anti-rape spray in Mr William Strutt’s eyes
then pushed him to the ground so hard that the elderly man suffered
two fractured bones.

Eaton would have got clean away with pnds stlng staff 2,900 wages
if not for the heroic intervention of four passers-by who raised a
hue and cry – and rugby tackled him to the ground.

The Old Bailey was told the robbery came just four months after
Eaton’s release from custody for another series of ruthless robberies.

In court he admitted robbery and having a firearm – the gas
cannister – with intent.

His alleged accomplice, Derek Kent, 21, was cleared of robbery.

He was accused of helping wrench the cashbag out of Mr Strutt’s
grasp and then pleading with ‘have-a-go’ brothers Adrian Alexander,
24, and Simon, 21, to let Eaton go.

Kent denied the charge, claiming that he had been shocked to
suddenly come across Eaton, a close friend, struggling with an old man
in Station Road, Harold Wood, on August 2 last year.

He tried to split the two apart then followed his friend as he fled
up the street, he claimed.

As pony-tailed Kent, of Hilldene Avenue, Romford, was acquitted of
robbery a middle-aged woman in the public gallery threw her hands in
the air and wept for joy.

Judge George Bathurst-Norman was told Eaton had been sentenced to
three years youth custody in October 1990 for a string of jewellery
shop and building society robberies in the Romford area.

He was released from that sentence on March 28 last year.

Mr David Leyton, defending, said his client had ‘very serious
personal problems’ worsened by drug use.

‘The condition in which he committed this robbery was clearly
disgusting.

He had taken a cocktail of drugs – cocaine, cannabis and
alcohol.

‘
The judge told Eaton: ‘This was an extremely serious robbery.

‘You armed yourself with that spray, squirted it into the eyes of
that elderly man and, but for the gallant actions of the brothers, you
might well have got away.

‘You seem to have serious problems with drugs.

It is in your
interests to be kept away from drugs for as long as possible.

‘
Eaton, of Annalees Road, South Ockendon, Essex, did not react as he
was sentenced to four years youth custody.

ENDS
MMMM