A mugger who was high on psychoactive substances as he attacked an 85-year-old woman at an Exeter cashpoint is starting a jail sentence today. The judge in his trial remarked that he had 'clearly been to the University of Crime'.
22 year old Darren Watts, of the homeless hostel in Smythen Street, went out before dawn on a January morning and targeted the elderly lady at the Nat West cash machine in Cowick Street.
He grabbed her money and bank card and knocked her to the ground, causing a facial injury.
He was caught on CCTV and arrested.
The court heard that Watts had 53 previous convictions for 106 offences and was on police bail AND on prison licence, having served part of a sentence for burglary.
In court he admitted taking the money and apologised to his victim - saying he was 'bang out of order' but needed money to pay drug debts.
He's been jailed for three years and four months.
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