A MAN who stole £30 from a 16-year-old newspaper delivery boy has been given a five-month prison sentence by York magistrates.

Nicholas Ralph, prosecuting, told magistrates that the boy was on his paper round at 5.45pm, on March 7, when a silver Peugeot 206 stopped nearby.

Jamie Campy, 18, got out and approached the 16-year-old, asking him to hand over his money. When the boy refused, Campy said "We are taxing you," and unfastened his bag.

Mr Ralph said the boy was too frightened to resist, but later gave police Campy's description.

The thief was spotted in Parliament Street, York, by a police officer on April 30. As the policeman tried to arrest him, Campy bit the officer's right hand.

"Members of the public then stepped in to help the officer, who described Campy as 'acting like a crazy animal'," said Mr Ralph.

Mr Ralph told magistrates that Campy had already received an 80-hour community punishment order from Beverley magistrates on February 26 for three theft offences and resisting arrest.

Campy, of Thurston House, Cherry Street, York, admitted:

Stealing a bag containing £30 from the paper boy

Stealing £26.96-worth of lager from the Inner Space Station, Bishopthorpe Road, York, on May 3

Stealing a Ford Sierra from St Benedict's Road, York, on May 18

Driving while disqualified

Driving without insurance

Failure to stop for a police officer

Resisting arrest

Failure to answer police bail to attend an ID parade on March 17 and failure to attend court on May 23.

Kevin Blount, for Campy, said that Campy's failure to attend the ID parade had not caused any delay to the investigation as he had complied with video procedures at an earlier date.

Campy had returned to York following his convictions in Beverley with "the best of intentions", but found it difficult, due to lack of support, giving into peer pressure.

He added that Campy accepted a custodial sentence was now inevitable.

Magistrates sentenced Campy to five months imprisonment, ordered him to pay £40 compensation each to the newspaper boy and the police officer, and banned him from driving for six months.

Updated: 10:18 Tuesday, June 24, 2003