Jailed Hull cannabis user Marc Gledhill

used knuckleduster to rob man - then hugged him

A LONG-TERM cannabis user was probably out of his "befuddled" mind when he robbed a man then hugged him and said they should "look out for each other as we both have curly hair".

Guy Gorman was walking along Beverley Road in west Hull just after 5pm on February 24 when his path was blocked by Marc Gledhill, 31, who pulled up on a bicycle.

Gledhill said to Mr Gorman: "All right. Give us a quid, I need a drink," Hull Crown Court heard.

Phillip Evans, prosecuting, told the court: "Mr Gorman could see that as this was said the defendant had taken his right hand from the handlebars and clenched a fist, around, which was wrapped a knuckleduster.

"At first, Mr Gorman denied having any money with which to give the defendant a quid, then the defendant said 'Well, you'd better sought it out. If you don't there's going to be some ******* trouble'."

Mr Gorman then produced a £5 note and gave it to Gledhill, who said: "Cheers".

Mr Evans said: "Then, to Mr Gorman's surprise, the defendant hugged him and said 'Me and you have to look out for each other as we both have curly hair', and at that the defendant cycled away."

Mr Gorman, who said he had been "terrified" throughout the ordeal, was able to give police a description of Gledhill, who was soon arrested.

He was searched and found to be in possession of the knuckleduster and £5-worth of cannabis, which he said was for personal use.

In interview, Gledhill claimed he had asked to borrow money from Mr Gorman and that he wore the knuckleduster because it was "jewellery".

He later admitted robbery, possession of an offensive weapon and possession of cannabis.

The court heard the father-of-three was a long-term cannabis user who had previous convictions for affray, drugs, and theft.

Fiona Tannock, for Gledhill, said he "bitterly regrets" the fear he caused.

Gledhill, of Alexandra Road, west Hull, was jailed for two years.

Judge Michael Mettyear told him: "Street robberies are regarded as serious offences by the courts because people get terrified when somebody comes up to them and threatens them and tries to take their possessions as you did, and this particular case is made much, much worse in that you had a knuckleduster.

"It's a fearsome-looking implement and you had no business whatsoever to be wearing it or using it."

He added: "Then there was this bizarre incident after you achieved your ends where you hugged him and spoke those rather strange words to him - no doubt as a result of your befuddled mind because of long-term drug use.

"You clearly were to some degree out of your mind when you were doing this."

http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk 08/04/2014