Jail for man who attacked pensioner in Friargate

Phillip Williams was jailed for the robbery which targeted a pensioner

A man who knocked down a pensioner and stole cash from him has been jailed.

The attack took place in Friargate on January 18.

A 65-year-old man had withdrawn from £200 from a cash machine at the Tesco Express when Phillip Williams approach him from behind.

Williams knocked his victim to the ground and took the money and bank card from him.

A day before the attack the pensioner who was attacked had been discharged from hospital after suffering a stroke.

Williams, 29, of Ashmoor Street – close to the university campus, will face four years and three months in prison after being sentenced at Preston Crown Court.

Footage showed Williams, who pleaded guilty to robbery, watching the victim use the cash machine before following him and committing the robbery.

Detective Constable Sam Patel of Preston CID said: “This was a serious offence when a vulnerable victim was targeted by Williams.

“The victim is a man in his 60s who was not very well and Williams subjected him to a robbery where he pushed him to the ground and took money from him.”