Swansea Crown Court heard that Robert West has 24 previous convictions for 45 offences, including nine for violence against the person
A SELF-STYLED "debt enforcer" who broke a man's nose and was part of a gang that burgled a house has been jailed.
A judge said it seemed 30-year-old Robert West from Mayhill took some "pride" in his status — and he sent him down for two years.
Helen Randall, prosecuting, told Swansea Crown Court that the first charge related to an incident in Port Talbot bus station on October 21 this year when West became involved in altercation with a man he knew before punching him in the face and breaking his nose.
The second incident happened eight days later, when West was part of gang who kicked-in the front door of a house in Skewen while the occupants were upstairs, and made-off with a TV and a slab of Fosters lager.
West, aged 30, of Tegid Road, had previously pleaded guilty to common assault and to burglary when he appeared in the dock for sentencing.
The court heard West has 24 previous convictions for 45 offences including nine of violence against the person, and that he was subject to two suspended prison sentences when he committed the October offences — one of which was for assaulting a former partner.
Stewart John, for West, said that while his client was collecting debts for friends, he was an "extremely unsophisticated individual".
The advocate said that after his client had been released from his latest term of imprisonment in June this year he had gone away to a Christian-based rehabilitation centre to tackle his alcohol issues — but he had left early and moved back to Swansea and fallen in with a "negative peer group" again, something he "bitterly regrets".
Mr John added that his client was hoping to get the help he needs to become "a positive role model" for this young son.
Judge Paul Thomas said it seemed West used intimidation in his role as a debt enforcer, adding: "It seems to me you take some pride in that status".
West was jailed for 18 months for the burglary, three months for the assault and three months for breaching the suspended sentences all to run consecutively.
Read more: http://www.southwales-eveningpost.co.uk/Jail-Swansea-man-took-pride-debt-enforcer/story-28263268-detail/story.html#ixzz3stgilCJ4
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