A robber who left two women terrified told police he was sorry and said: "Please don't arrest me, I'm a smackhead".
Mark Reynolds was in the grip of a crippling addiction after turning to heroin following an attack and his weight had plummeted to just seven stone. He left one woman injured by trying to rob her on the Metro and stole another lady's bag as she packed her car with shopping.
Now the 52-year-old, who has 109 previous convictions, has been jailed at Newcastle Crown Court.
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On Sunday September 19 last year, he was refused entry to a Premier shop in South Shields as he was barred and he became agitated and was seen brandishing an axe and knife. The following day he targeted a 29-year-old woman on a Metro between South Shields and Pelaw. When the train stopped at a station, he tried to grab her bag, which contained her phone, cards and cash.
She bravely resisted but suffered a fractured little finger and a soft tissue injury to her neck in the process. She said the attack affected her mental health and made her feel unsafe and afraid.
Within half an hour, Reynolds struck again, this time targeting a 41-year-old woman who had just finished shopping in Hebburn. He suddenly appeared next to her and took her handbag from her trolley as she put the shopping in the car.
She grabbed the bag, screamed for help and tried to resist but became afraid when he looked at her threateningly and said 'Don't, it's not worth it." Prosecutor Neil Pallister said: "She felt he was about to use violence and pull something out like a knife or a screwdriver. In fear for her safety, she let go."
Two men chased Reynolds, who fell and the contents of the bag spilled on the road and were recovered, albeit the phone was damaged. A security guard from a nearby Aldi stopped Reynolds.
He said to police: "I'm very sorry for what I did but I'm a smackhead" and added: "Please don't arrest me because I'm a smackhead and I'm very sorry for what happened, I just need money for gear." The victim said she was left "terrified".
Reynolds, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to possessing offensive weapons, attempted robbery and robbery and was jailed for three years and three months.
Fiona Lamb, defending, said his offending stems from him taking heroin after a bad assault years ago. She told the court: "He has never used drugs for fun, it's been a coping mechanism that's ruined his life. He is someone who was desperate, he was extremely malnourished. He was seven stone when he went into prison and is now 12 stone. He says he hates drugs, it's ruined his life."
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