A DRUG addict mugger who targeted an 86-year-old after seeing him withdraw pension money from the Post Office has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

After being roughed up and robbed in his own car by Sean Little, the courageous victim gave chase, only to be punched in the face.

Little, who had 118 previous convictions and was on post sentence supervision, spent all but £20 of the £600 he had snatched in the three hours before he was tracked down and arrested.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court David Le Coyte had gone to the Post Office on Victoria Road at about 2pm on September 21. He had gone in to withdraw £600 of his pension and first noticed Little, 28, when he tried to queue jump. As he left Little reminded him: “Don’t forget to take your card.”

 Mr Le Coyte, who had put the cash in his top pocket, went and sat in his car as he waited for his wife.

Little approached and asked for money for food, although he had been seen changing cash in the branch. He then asked for a lift. When he was refused he jumped in the car and demanded: “Give me your money.” In the following struggle the lining of the pocket was ripped as he grabbed the notes and fled.

The prosecutor said: “Mr Little must have thought he was fortunate because there was a bus at the bus stop. Mr Le Coyte was not a man to be thwarted by a man running off.

He boarded the bus and faced the defendant who punched him, shoved him backwards and and swore at him before fleeing. She said CCTV showed the attack and when the defendant was tracked down about three hours later he had just £20 left. Little, of Willows Avenue,. Pinehurst, pleaded guilty to robbery.  In a powerful victim personal statement Miss Squire said Mr LeCoyte’s physical and mental health had been damaged. He no longer felt safe to go anywhere in the town he had called home since April 1960. His Crohn’s disease had worsened since the attack and his blood pressure had shot up.

Emma Handslip, defending, said Little had been a drug addict since he was 12 but managed to get clean and into work earlier in the year. But he fell back into drug use and went on another spate of offending which led to the robbery for which he was truly sorry. “‘He is haunted by it.”

He had a partner and young child.

Jailing him Judge Robert Pawson said “It is hard to imagine a worse street robbery with view of impact. I accept there is an element of Jekyll and Hyde about you. When you are with your partner and child you are a man with a big heart.

But he added: “You are a man who at the flick of a switch will forget about your son, partner, grandparents and put your own thoughts first.

After the hearing PC Corinna Wiltshire said: “This was an extremely cowardly and shocking attack. Little targeted an elderly, vulnerable man who his family tell me has always seen the very best in people and saw the world as a fine place. This attack was extremely frightening and has had a really big impact on this man and his family. He was left bleeding, afraid and extremely upset as a result of Little’s actions and I am pleased that he has received a five-and-a-half year custodial sentence for his actions.”