A brave and quick-thinking 77-year-old man managed to outwit a menacing, knife-wielding drug addict who suddenly confronted him in the street at night and demanded cash.
The pensioner was scared but he quickly tried to talk his way out of trouble by offering to go to a cashpoint machine and withdraw some cash. He used the ruse to run off and go into a shop to summon help. The would-be robber gave up and walked off but he was later identified on CCTV pictures from distinctive trainers that he had been wearing, Hull Crown Court heard.
Jonathan Delasaux, 50, of no fixed address, but recently in custody on remand, admitted offences of attempted robbery and possessing a blade on November 7. He originally denied the matters but he changed his pleas.
Harry Bradford, prosecuting, said that the pensioner was walking from his home in Hull to a shop. He arrived at 9.50pm, bought some items and walked along New Bridge Road to Middleburg Street.
He was approached by a man – Delasaux – who seemed dazed and potentially intoxicated. Delasaux asked for money and the pensioner told him that he did not have any and tried to walk away.
Delasaux moved in front of the man and put his hand on his shoulder to stop him walking away before pulling out a kitchen knife. He asked the pensioner: “How do you want this to be your last day on earth?”
The quick-thinking pensioner offered to go to a cash point machine and withdraw some cash. Delasaux told him: “You better f***ing had do.” He warned the pensioner that he would stab him if he did not give him money.
The man ran inside the shop and Delasaux did not make any attempt to enter the shop before walking away. The pensioner later said that he felt scared at the time. He told the court that he, at first, was not going to report the incident but he added: “I just thought: ‘What if it had been some poor lass?’ I have seen worse.”
Delasaux was identified from CCTV pictures – partly from distinctive trainers that he was wearing – on November 26 and he was arrested. During police interview, he denied being at the scene and claimed that he was in custody at the time. When he was told that he was not in custody at the time, he continued to claim that he was not there.
Delasaux had convictions for 85 previous offences, including three involving weapons. He had been jailed for three months in March 2012 for possessing a knife and again for four months in December 2013. He was jailed for three-and-a-half years in February 2014 for attempted robbery and possessing a knife.
Dale Brook, mitigating, said that Delasaux had a history of drug and alcohol use. He had been on a methadone prescription but came off that. “Alcohol remains a long and enduring problem,” said Mr Brook.
Delasaux had written a letter of apology to the pensioner, showing insight and genuine remorse. “He accepts that it should not have happened,” said Mr Brook. “It would have been scary and it’s a serious offence. He seems motivated to try to turn his life around.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Delasaux: “He is a 77-year-old man. He was alone and it was dark. You were wearing a jacket with a hood up, no doubt to try to achieve some form of disguise. You approached him and you asked for money and you produced a kitchen knife.
“That must have been terrifying for him. He seems terrified and scared but he acts extremely bravely and with quick thinking and says he will give you some money from a cash machine. He then runs back to the shop and gets some help.
“He is to be commended for his quick-thinking and bravery. He has overcome this incident. He is an impressive, stoic gentleman.”
Judge Thackray told Delasaux: “The courts have done their best over the years to assist you and rehabilitate you. You have a history of drugs and alcohol and you continued to commit offences.”
Delasaux was jailed for four years. After the hearing, the pensioner told Hull Live that his chief reason for coming forward was the thought that it could have been a woman who was the victim of the attempted robbery. He declined to comment further.