THREE hooded robbers, who attacked their victim after following him for 20 minutes, are now in jail having been caught by a tracking device on the phone they stole.
Craig Lacey, 21, Darryl Abbey, 21, and Declan Holness, 20, tailed their victim as he walked to work at 5.30am on February 17.
Derby Crown Court heard that the victim noticed the robbers on Chaddesden Park Road. They attacked him in Nottingham Road, stealing his bag, which included the victim's phone.
Police quickly found the three thugs at a nearby flat because the phone was fitted with a tracker.
The victim said: "You hear that these things happen but never saw myself as a potential victim. I believed I was safe but that is clearly no longer the case.
"I am constantly looking over my shoulder and prefer to cross the road and let people walk by me rather than behind me."
Prosecutor Sarah Allen told the court that while the victim was walking, he became worried because the robbers followed him for 20 minutes and "other pedestrians appeared to be wary of the group".
At one point, he sought refuge in a newsagent's shop, only to find it closed.
He crossed Nottingham Road and the gang did the same. He could hear them talking but could not make out the details of the conversation. He was then struck.
"The blow caused him to stumble. He was wearing glasses and these were broken," said Miss Allen. He tried to hold onto his bag but this was snatched and he was left in the middle of the road with a severe cut above one eye.
The gang had hoped to find cash and a laptop in the work bag but were "disappointed it contained no money", the court was told.
Judge James Sampson told the trio the case was more serious because they acted together and the attack took place while it was still dark.
He said they had been smoking cannabis throughout the night and that was also a factor which made the crime worse.
The judge added: "This was not a spur of the moment offence. You followed your victim for about 20 minutes, which shows considerable premeditation.
"It was foreseeable that violence of the kind used would be necessary and the injuries occasioned. It has had a significant impact upon your victim."
A prison term of 54 months was imposed on Lacey, of Griffin Close, Alvaston. He had two previous robberies on his criminal record.
Custody of 40 months were ordered for Abbey, 21, of no fixed address, and Holness, 20, of Kitchener Avenue, Sunny Hill. Both had several previous convictions.
All three admitted robbery and have been in custody since being arrested.
Stuart Newsam, for Lacey, said: "He refutes the suggestion that this was his idea. He is not the instigator, this was very much a joint enterprise."
Chris Hallas, for Holness, said the defendant had stopped taking cannabis and added: "He has horrified his family. He is horrified and disgusted by his actions.
"He has written a letter to the victim, saying 'you deserved nothing of what happened'."
Steve Cobley, for Abbey, told the judge: "It seems he was not the prime mover. He understands a substantial custodial sentence is to come from the court and rightly so.
"His involvement was spontaneous to some extent. He is disgusted by what he has done."
