A homeless alcoholic who carried out a string of street robberies, rendering Canterbury’s streets unsafe to walk at night has been jailed for public protection.

Dean Richards, 26, must serve at least four years before being considered for parole having been convicted of five robberies and one attempted robbery all carried out in a two week period in February last year which the sentencing judge at Canterbury Crown Court said were nasty vicious attacks.

Richards denied being responsible for the robberies claiming in evidence they had been committed by others and he had got some details from them, other details he had made up.

At Monday’s sentencing hearing, Richards claimed through his lawyer, James Ross, that he’d been led astray by a man called Ashley Akers, now deceased, who was involved in some of the offences and who was arrested by police but charges against him were later dropped.

The victims included a man who was punched and robbed as he walked to his car in Spring Lane and a woman who was attacked as she walked home along Abbots Barton Walk.

Richards then attacked two female students after being bailed by police and finally attacked a schoolboy.

Two of the victims were hit on the head with bottles and Richards told the jury he was drinking 10 to 12 bottles of wine a day, paying for it either by shoplifting or begging.

As well as the trial offences Richards was also sentenced for an attempted theft when he tried to steal from a parked car and was seen breaking into the vehicle and theft when he stole his grandmother’s pension. Two further offences were considered involving Richards smashing car windows.

He later said he was not intending to steal. just wanted to cause damage.

Richards had 21 past convictions for 48 offences which included an assault on his mother.

His lawyer, James Ross said Richards several times claimed that Mr Akers had led him astray.

“He had the misfortune to come across someone who brought out the worst in him,” he said.

He said Richards had been an alcoholic for most of the past decade but had never committed robberies such as these before.

A spell in Elmley would allow Richards to right himself but Mr Ross submitted a sentence for public protection would not be right. “He has been an alcoholic from his early teens,” said Mr Ross.

Passing a sentence for public protection, Mr Recorder Peter Morgan said Richards’ victims were vulnerable and the offences were committed when the victim was alone.

Most of the robbery victims suffered facial injuries and two, including the schoolboy were hit on the head with bottles.

“What they were subjected to was terrifying.

"During the two weeks you indulged in this series of nasty vicious attacks and Canterbury was not a place where it was safe to walk at night.

“Having made a confession to police, you chose to withdraw it and pleaded not guilty saying you were not present when the offences were committed,” said Recorder Morgan.

“I am told you now recognise the true position but I am not convinced you have insight into what you put your victims through,” he added.

He said Richards posed a future risk to the public and he met the criteria for a sentence for public protection.

“I have heard you tried to raise your income by begging and shoplifting.

"You have never been employed and have been assessed at high risk of reoffending,” he said.

Richards has served 386 days on remand which will count towards his sentence