Keith Cross sentenced for robbery

Keith Cross

Keith Cross (30/07/1992) of Rochdale admitted one count of robbery at Manchester Crown Court on Monday 28 April he was sentenced to three years and eight months imprisonment.

At about 5:10am on Saturday 20 July 2013, a 23-year-old woman was walking along Thomas Street in Manchester city centre, wearing head phones and listening to music. As she walked along Tib Street she was approached from behind by Cross, who had been following her.

He grabbed the strap of her bag, forcing her to spin around, during a struggle over her bag he told her, ‘give me your phone or I’ll slash your face’. He then hit her on the back of the head with a glass bottle that he had been carrying.

Distraught and reeling from the assault, the woman handed over her phone and ran off along Tib Street where she sought help from a taxi driver. Cross followed her and approached the taxi driver, telling him that the victim was his girlfriend and that he should ignore her as she was drunk.

Cross eventually walked off along Carpenter Lane before going to Shudehill Bus Station where he got on the 17 bus, which travels through north Manchester to Middleton and onwards to Rochdale Bus Station.

Police Constable Dave Stebbings said: “Cross subjected the woman to a very terrifying and unprovoked robbery, the physical and emotional scars of which will take some time to heal.

“Reeling from the incident and obviously distraught, the woman sought help from a nearby taxi driver. Not content with what he had already done, Cross followed her, belittled her in front of the taxi driver and subjected her to a further assault.

“He is a bully who did not think twice about targeting a woman who was out alone in the early hours of the morning and I hope she finds some comfort knowing justice has now been served.

“Following a number of appeals we were provided with information that led us to Cross and I want to thank the public for their support and assistance following this incident.”