Judge tells Leeds chocolate shoplifter who broke man's jaw to 'stop putting cocaine up your nose'
Thug attacked man standing at ATM
A judge warned a shoplifting thug to stop using cocaine after giving him a chance to prove himself.
Addict Harrison Joyce escaped with a suspended sentence after admitting multiple shop thefts and a sickening attack on a man at a cashpoint that left him with a broken jaw.
Leeds Crown Court heard that 26-year-old Joyce had entered Morrisons on Coldcotes Circus, Gipton, on February 1 and stole Easter chocolate worth £150.
He returned the next day and stole £30 worth of Cadbury’s Creme Eggs.
On the same day he approached a man whom he knew at the ATM at Seacroft’s Tesco and punched him multiple times.
The man was able to flee, but had a broken tooth. It was later found he had a fractured jaw and required surgery.
Harrison went on to steak £68 worth of cheese from Aldi on York Road on April 13, and then on May 14, entered the Co-Op on Swarcliffe Avenue and stole £70 of goods.
He was arrested on May 15 but largely gave a no-comment interview.
Harrison, of no fixed address, admitted four counts of theft and a charge of ABH.
He has six previous convictions for 38 offences, including 27 for theft.
A probation report found that Harrison had struggled after the death of his partner and child and turned to cocaine. He needed to steal to fund his habit.
Mitigating, Michael Walsh said that Joyce did not want to return to custody and was serious about tackling his drug problem. He also said there was a job waiting for him once he is released.
Appearing in court over a video link from HMP Leeds, Joyce was told by Judge Kate Rayfield that he would be freed from custody.
She told him: “This is probably the first chance you have had to get free from drugs. But let’s make it clear, do not expect probation to fix your problems.
“There’s no magic pill for cocaine.”
She then bluntly told him he needed to “stop putting it up his nose” or risk going back to prison.
She handed him a 15-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.
She ordered he complete 20 rehabilitation days with probation and 150 hours of unpaid work.
He also ordered he pay £500 in compensation to his attack victim.