Dundee thug, 30, forced victim to ground and robbed him of mobile phone

A thug forced his victim to the ground, restricted his breathing and robbed him of his mobile phone.

Dundee Sheriff Court heard Samuel Noble, 30, of Transform, Soapwork Lane, was walking along Bell Street at around 2.30am on August 28 with another man.

Darren Johnston caught up with the pair and engaged them in conversation.

They walked together and entered an alleyway, where Noble put his arm around Mr Johnston’s neck and forced him to the ground.

Depute fiscal Trina Sinclair told the court Noble said: “This is what you get for feeling me up.”

She said Mr Johnston tried to scream but couldn’t, as he was being choked.

Noble then put his hand in his victim’s pocket, took out his mobile phone and walked away. Mr Johnston shouted for help and Noble went back and kicked him on the head.

Police were able to identify the accused from CCTV footage, Ms Sinclair said.

The court heard that when arrested, Noble told police: “He was touching us up.”

Noble admitted that on August 28, at Bell Street, he assaulted Mr Johnston by repeatedly placing his arm across his neck, applying pressure and restricting his breathing.

He then kicked him on the head, to his injury, and robbed him of his mobile phone.

Solicitor Kris Gilmartin said Noble had been drinking and taking Valium at the time of the offence.

He said he was heading home to Soapwork Lane when he and his companion met Mr Johnston.

Mr Gilmartin said it was his client’s position that Mr Johnston had spoken to them first and invited them to a party, before following them into an alleyway.

He claimed Mr Johnston had touched Noble inappropriately, and his response had been to assault him, such was his anger.

The solicitor said it hadn’t been a pre-planned act and that circumstances had overtaken him, most likely due to his consumption of alcohol and Valium.

Sheriff Lorna Drummond placed Noble on a community payback order with 100 hours of unpaid work, to be completed within three months.