Hungry criminal ends up in court after eating stolen pizza and feeding some to his dog

A hungry criminal ended up in the dock - for handling stolen pizza.

James George Brown, 23, admitted he received the hot pizza shortly after a delivery driver was robbed by a man with a baseball bat.

The armed robber threatened the driver: “Give me the money and drop the pizzas.”

Brown was originally charged with conspiracy to rob but he admitted handling stolen goods and the prosecutors accepted his plea.

He placed the £57 order for “a large amount of pizzas and other items”, the court heard.

A delivery driver from Domino’s on Regent Street, central Stockton was sent to Laurel Road, Primrose Hill, at 7.30 to 7.45pm on January 10.

He thought the property was empty but heard someone shouting to come around the back, said prosecutor Rachel Masters.

The man with the small wooden bat approached the victim and threatened him until he handed over the food and cash.

Brown, who lived next door to the delivery address, was arrested on suspicion of robbery after checks brought up his phone number.

He said he knew nothing about the robbery, took a pizza and fed part of it to his dog.

Brown had 14 previous offences on his record including wounding with intent and assault causing actual bodily harm when he was a teenager.

He was under a community order at the time for affray, criminal damage and breaching a restraining order, Teesside Crown Court heard on Tuesday.

Duncan McReddie, defending, said the case would never have reached crown court if Brown’s explanation had been accepted earlier.

He said: “He accepts being the person who ordered the pizza but he had more than enough cash to pay for it.

“He never intended to rob anyone. He was never aware of a robbery taking place.

“When he was woken from sleep after the incident, he took part of a pizza.

“He had part of it and fed part of it to his dog.”

The judge, Recorder Martin Bethel QC, asked: “Did the dog enjoy it?”

Turning to sentencing, the judge told Brown: “You’ve got a bad record and you’re in danger any time you commit further offences, particularly offences of dishonesty.

“But for this offence of handling a pizza, the sentence will be a conditional discharge for six months.”

The court heard how another man - Connor Everett-Green, 24, of Kendal Road, Grangefield, Stockton - admitted being responsible for the robbery.

He has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob and is awaiting sentence.