A DRUG addict who threatened a man with a cut-throat razor as he robbed him of just 90p has been jailed for four years.

Umar Hussain, 26, warned he would stab his victim as he was walking to work in Bradford on January 7.

Bradford Crown Court heard that around a week earlier, on December 29 last year, Hussain had also stolen £15 from a 78-year-old dementia sufferer in what the Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, labelled a “despicable” theft.

Prosecutor Jessica Randell told the court that Hussain had been living in a hostel in Bradford when he went into the pensioner’s room and asked for money.

Despite the man’s refusal, Hussain took £15 from his wallet which he later told police he used to buy drugs as he “needed his fix”.

On January 7, Hussain was at the junction of North Avenue and Parkfield Road in Bradford when he shouted at his 21-year-old victim and flashed an ID card from Hull Prison.

He demanded money from the man, saying: “I’m not going to mess around.

“I’ve just got out of prison, I’m on the run.”

Miss Randell said that Hussain produced a cut-throat razor with a 20cm blade before ordering the man to empty his pockets.

When his victim said he only had 90p in change, Hussain told him: “You better not have any more money on you or I’m going to stab you with this.

“If I see you again I’m going to get you.”

Hussain, of Queens Road, Bradford, was arrested on January 12 and picked out by his robbery victim in an identification parade.

He later admitted charges of robbery and theft.

The court heard he had 13 previous convictions for 23 offences, including three previous convictions for robbery.

Miss Randell said Hussain’s last prison sentence had resulted from a shop theft in which he tried to steal cash by threatening staff at knifepoint.

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Jessica Strange, defending, said Hussain was motivated to rid himself of his drug addictions to ensure no further appearances before the courts.

She said the robbery was a “desperate” attempt to get money for food following Hussain’s release from prison.

She added that the father-of-two, who the court was told suffers from schizophrenia, was not taking his required medication at the time of the offences, adding that he had no recollection of committing the robbery.

Judge Durham Hall said Hussain had committed “unpleasant, nasty, bullying, and indeed cowardly, offences”.

Referring to the robbery, he said: “You produced a formidable cut-throat razor and you threatened to stab him.

“You are somebody who has to address both your attitude and addiction.

“There is no mitigation here aside from your pleas.”