Robber thought victim owed his friend cash, Leicester court told

A man has been jailed for robbing a stranger he thought owed his friend money.

Bhavesh Odedra was sent to prison for nine months after he stepped out of a betting shop to empty the pockets of his passing victim.

Prosecutor Victoria Rose told Leicester Crown Court how Odedra took a mobile phone, an MP3 player, £10 and a house key in the incident on April 6 last year, in Belgrave Road, Belgrave, Leicester.

Odedra, 30, of Meering Avenue, Newark, pleaded guilty to the robbery.

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Miss Rose said Odedra robbed the man after his friend, Kiran Jivan, had walked into the betting shop and told him the man outside owed him money.

She said Jivan bore a grudge against his victim who he bumped into by chance on the street outside the bookies.

She said: "There was a verbal exchange as Jivan confronted the victim saying he owed him money."

Miss Rose said Jivan, 52, of Thurcaston Road, Mowmacre Hill, Leicester, told the victim he owed him £280 for mobile phones which had been failed to be delivered.

When the victim said he had no money on him Jivan went into the betting shop to tell Odedra about the problem.

Miss Rose said Odedra walked out and challenged the victim before putting his hands in his pockets and taking out the items.

She said: "Jivan punched the victim twice in the face."

Jivan pleaded guilty to common assault and theft.

He was given a year-long community order with a six-month alcohol treatment programme.

Miss Rose told the court Jivan had nine previous convictions for 13 offences which included harassment and the breach of restraining orders relating to his former wife.

She said Odedra had 15 previous convictions for 42 offences which included threats to kill and common assault.

Shital Modhwadia, for Odedra, said: "My client genuinely believed that he was helping a friend out."

Christopher Gabbitas, for Jivan, said his client developed a problem with alcohol after his marriage broke down.

He said: "He used to drink 10 cans of strong lager a day.

"When he drinks he acts in a foolish and stupid manner."

Judge Lynn Tayton QC told Jivan: "It seems to me these offences seem to be alcohol-related so perhaps the best way to protect the public against you is to try to stop you drinking."