Jail for Lincoln street robber who threatened victim with ‘dirty needle’ to steal iPhone… before getting caught by device’s tracking system

A street robber who threatened his victim with ‘a dirty needle’ when stealing an iPhone was caught by the device’s inbuilt tracking facility.

John Arnold, 43, was jailed for four years and nine months when he appeared in court today (August 28).

Arnold fled with the iPhone after confronting his victim on Lincoln High Street.

Lincoln Crown Court heard the man was walking near St Mary le Wigford church shortly after 11pm when he noticed Arnold making a ‘bee-line’ towards him.

Stuart Lody, prosecuting, told the court Arnold appeared agitated and asked the man if he could make a call on his iPhone.

Mr Lody said the victim agreed to make the call himself but was reluctant to hand his iPhone over.

When the call went to answerphone Arnold grabbed the victim's wrist and tried to seize his phone, the court heard.

Mr Lody said the victim punched Arnold to defend himself but released the phone after his attacker shouted ‘I've got a dirty needle on me mate.’

After returning home the victim used his iPad to shut his phone down and to track Arnold's location.

Police arrested Arnold at a nearby homeless shelter and he denied the robbery, claiming to have found the iPhone.

Arnold, of no fixed address, admitted a single charge of robbery on May 3, 2023.

The court heard Arnold was heavily convicted and had served long jail sentences for arson, robbery and burglary.

Neil Sands, mitigating for Arnold, said his problems arose after he failed to find stable accommodation following his release from jail.

"This was a threat of violence but nothing was produced," Mr Sands added.

Passing sentence Judge Simon Hirst said the psychologicsl impact on the victim was far from minimal.

"This was late at night, a lonely person who you decided was ripe for being robbed," Judge Hirst told Arnold.