A Sandys man was remanded into custody after he admitted robbing a man of his financial assistance money.

Eugene Anderson, 54, pleaded guilty to robbing Frederick Gordon by force in an incident on August 21 last year, stealing $440 in cash and his Special Persons ID.

The court heard that Mr Gordon, who suffers from a permanent leg injury, attended the Money Shop at around 12.30pm that day to cash a financial assistance cheque.

After cashing his cheque he placed the money in his rear pocket, along with his ID, but while walking along Union Street he felt someone push him from behind.

He fell facedown onto the pavement and before he could move he felt a knee on his back holding him down. He then felt his attacker reaching into his rear pocket.

Mr Gordon struggled to protect his money, grabbing at his own pocket. He was able to turn his head around, at which point he recognised his attacker as Anderson.

Anderson then told him: “Let go. I will stab you. I have a knife in my bag.”

Mr Gordon let go of his pocket and Anderson pulled at it, tearing the pocket and causing money to fall to the ground. He then grabbed the money and escaped down Union Street.

Anderson was later arrested at MarketPlace with a sum of cash and Mr Gordon’s Special Persons ID.

He also admitted stealing items from a pair of grocers in separate incidents that same month.

The court heard that on August 13 last year, a butcher at the Shopping Centre on Church Street noticed Anderson holding a shopping bag. He noticed Anderson pick up a tray of rib-eye steaks, valued at around $75, and walk away.

He later saw Anderson walk past cashiers at the store, still holding the bag but not the meat. He confronted the defendant, asking him for the meat he had taken from the shelf.

Anderson then reached into the bag and removed the steaks, which had been hidden below a jacket.

On August 31, a customer told staff at the Dollar Depot on Brunswick Street that she had seen a customer, identified as Anderson, placing items in a plastic shopping bag.

A cashier confronted him, at which point he removed several items from the bag and returned them to the shelves. A short while later Anderson went to leave the store, walking past the cash registers, but the cashiers noticed his bag appeared full.

They again confronted him, telling him to put the items back on the shelves. He went back into the store, but on three further occasions he attempted to leave the store with the bag full, leading the cashiers to lock the doors to the store and contact their superiors.

He eventually emptied out his bag, which contained deodorant and two silver flasks — items worth a combined total of $89.

While awaiting police, Anderson threatened one store employee, saying he would get someone else to attack him, adding: “You need to be six feet under.”

Anderson had initially denied all three incidents, but failed to attend court on his trial date. He reversed his pleas after Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo told him that he intended to remand him in custody given his past failure to attend court.

Mr Tokunbo ordered several pre-sentencing reports on Anderson, remanding him into custody until June 10.

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