Man jailed for stealing money from teen (From Halesowen News)

Man jailed for stealing money from teen

2:31pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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A HALESOWEN man who helped steal a handful of change from a teenager as he walked through a town centre churchyard has been jailed for five months.

Recorder Roderick Potter told Czech born Miroslav Ferko that 18-year-old Daniel Hamilton had been a vulnerable victim and it was clear he had been deliberately targeted.

Mr Potter said: "He now no longer walks anywhere near the churchyard and he remains apprehensive."

Ferko, he added, had taken part in what was clearly a joint enterprise with a second man who had been sent to prison for a total of two and a half years for his part in the offence and two other robberies.

Ferko, aged 32, of Highfield Lane admitted stealing the money at Wolverhampton Crown Court but David Swinnerton defending Ferko said he was very much the "second fiddle" in the offence.

He said Ferko had been addicted to heroin but, since the incident, was motivated to change his ways and was now determined to put his life back onto the rails.

Mr Edward Soulsby prosecuting said the teenager was walking through the churchyard when the second man engaged him in conversation.

He then demanded money and used the prescence of Ferko to reinforce his threat as the teenager handed over about £5 in change.

Mr Hamilton, who was badly shaken by the offence, then asked the two men if he could have bus fare to get home and they returned 80p, said Mr Soulsby.

After his arrest Ferko told police officers he accepted he had assisted in the crime adding: "The money was not for myself but for the other man so he could buy drugs."

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