Would-be armed robber targeted Teesside University student

Anthony Dale followed his intended victim before putting a knife to his neck and demanding that he handed over cash, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 44-year-old told the student that he was homeless and his intended victim offered to find him somewhere to stay.

Victoria Lamballe, prosecuting, said some of the incident was caught on CCTV as Dale followed the man through the Teesside University campus at around midnight on November 26, last year.

“The defendant approached him from behind and said ‘give me all of your money’ as he put a knife to his neck,” she said.

“Unaware of that weapon was, he instinctively grabbed hold of it and pushed the defendant away. It was at that point that he saw it was a butter knife.”

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Dale, of Borough Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery after he was arrested several hours later when he was traced through CCTV in the town centre.

Robert Mochrie, mitigating, said that his client ‘fully acknowledged he will receive an immediate custodial sentence’ for his offending.

Judge Nathan Adams locked Dale up for three years and nine months following his guilty plea to attempted robbery.

He added: “He responded with kindness after what must have been a terrifying ordeal at that time of night.”