- ITV Report
Mugger jailed for vicious attack on war veteran
A war veteran who was forced to miss last year’s Remembrance Day parade after having his jaw broken in a mugging, has seen his attacker jailed for nine years.
Richard Christie of Sugden Grove, Highgate, shoved 78-year-old victim, Bill Hopkins, to the floor on the doorstep of his Digbeth home on November 10 having followed him from the city centre.
The pensioner suffered nasty facial injuries from the fall and, as he lay on the floor, Christie rifled through the veteran’s pockets before snatching his wallet ? which contained his late wife’s memorial card ? bank cards and cash.
Mr Hopkins, who served in Germany and Malaya, suffered a fractured jaw and needed surgery to his shoulder following the attack. The severity of his injuries meant he was in hospital receiving treatment, when he would usually have been attending the Remembrance Day services in the city centre.
Detectives seized a glove torn from the attacker’s hand during the robbery which, following forensic examination, returned DNA evidence suggesting Christie was responsible. When officers searched the 48-year-old’s home on December 3, they uncovered a matching glove, on which there was found to be Mr Hopkins’ blood.
Christie admitted robbery and at Birmingham Crown Court yesterday and was jailed for nine years.