Robber who represented himself in court on his birthday puts celebrations on hold as he is jailed for two years

A man who represented himself on a robbery charge on his birthday today had to put the celebrations on hold when he was jailed for two years.

Ross McDonald, 26, started off full of confidence when he told the judge at Teesside Crown Court that he did not want a lawyer to speak for him.

He said that he could do it himself, and he suggested that he should be punished with some unpaid work and a curfew.

McDonald, who admitted punching a stranger in the face in Fabian Road, Eston, at 2.30am on Boxing Day and stealing his carrier bag containing a bottle of vodka and a Diet Coke, said: “If I were to lose my job it would be a serious thing.

“I am ashamed of what went on. I’ve started to turn my life around, I’m a hardworking lad now.

“I’ve been in my job in Coventry for 18 months. I was back home for Christmas. I had not been back home for six or seven months and got a bit carried away seeing my mates. It was stupid.”

Prosecutor Sue Jacobs said that McDonald asked his victim “Have you got anything for me?” and when the man answered No he called him back and punched him in the face,snatched the bag and ran off.”

He was stopped by police who recovered the drink.

McDonald told the officers that he and his pal had been drinking in Eston and Grangetown and he saw the man with the carrier bag of booze.

McDonald said that he thought “I’m having that”, adding “I was trying to knock him out so that I could get the bottles.”

Judge Peter Bowers, who had asked him what he wanted to say for himself, told him: “Attacking and robbing somebody in the street is a very serious offence.

“It is an offence that almost inevitably means an immediate sentence of prison.

“Two things in your favour are your immediate admissions and it’s the first offence.

“Normally an offence of this nature would be a sentence of three years.”

McDonald, of Fulbeck Road, Middlesbrough, was jailed for two years after pleading guilty to robbery.

He had arrived in court carrying just a lightweight jacket and he looked stunned as he was led down to the cells and off to Holme House Prison in Stockton.