Robber shattered his victims' lives

James Bleasdale conned Geoffrey Wilson into driving him into isolated countryside before stealing his car and leaving him lying on the road.

Days later he posed as a customer in an antiques centre in Bridgnorth before stealing volunteer assistant Peter Leicester's wallet.

In victim impact statements both men said their lives had been severely affected by the incidents with Mr Wilson having to give up some of his hobbies while Mr Leicester was struggling to trust anyone as a result of the incident.

Bleasdale, 36, of Hurleybrook Way in Leegomery, Telford, who admitted two counts of robbery at earlier hearings, was jailed for five and a half years when he appeared at Shrewsbury Crown Court yesterday.

Judge Peter Barrie said his victims had lost their confidence.

"You have taken away their quality of life," he told Bleasdale.

Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said that on April 15, Mr Wilson had driven into Albrighton to pick up a prescription for his wife.

Bleasdale approached and asked Mr Wilson to drive him to his broken down vehicle, getting into the passenger seat.

He directed the 86-year-old into the countryside in the Codsall Wood area and made him stop the car.

Mr Edwards said: "He got out went to the driver's side of the car and got Mr Wilson by the collar, dragged him out of the car and drove off at speed, leaving Mr Wilson lying on the roadside.

"Fortunately his victim suffered only cuts and bruises."

Mr Edwards said 13 days later Bleasdale walked into an antiques centre in which Mr Leicester – who has to use sticks to walk – was doing volunteer work.

He viewed a gold ring and then asked Mr Leicester if he could change a note to coins.

"As the victim took out his own wallet to do so Bleasdale pushed him onto a settee in the shop, grabbed the wallet and ran out," said Mr Edwards.

Mr Ian Durrant, for Bleasdale, said his client was thoroughly ashamed and horrified at what he had done and knew that his behaviour had been appalling.

He said Bleasdale had carried out offences to repay debts that had led him to receiving threats and a vicious beating in Telford Town Centre.

Bleasdale himself had been the victim of traumatic incidents in the past but realised this was no excuse for his behaviour, Mr Durrant said.

"He has written unsolicited letters of apology to both victims," he said.

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