A DISABLED man was robbed of his car after going to fill up with petrol in the early hours of the morning.

The multiple sclerosis sufferer was just pulling away from the forecourt at the station, on Redworth Road, Shildon, County Durham, having paid for petrol and cigarettes, when a man appeared in front of the recently-rented Vauxhall Insignia car.

Durham Crown Court was told the man was asking for a lift, but as he was doing so, the driver became aware of another figure trying the front passenger side door.

Chris Baker, prosecuting, said as the person blocking the car’s path repeated his request for a lift, the man trying the door, Ashley Fairhurst, got into the passenger seat and punched the driver twice in the face.

Mr Baker said Fairhurst then removed the ignition keys and told the driver to, “get out of the f***ing car.”

The terrified driver complied with the request, but was helped on his way by Fairhurst, who then pushed him away.

As Fairhurst and his accomplice got into the car, the defendant was heard to shout: “F**k them, we are going to Sunnybrow, now.”

Mr Baker said as the car screeched away, the victim went to the station kiosk to ring the police to report the car-jacking.

The car was driven to Stonebridge service station, at Langley Moor, near Durham, where Fairhurst left without paying for £11-worth of petrol, before heading to the Willington area.

Mr Baker said Fairhurst and the other man were found by police in Cedar Crescent, Sunnybrow, near Willington, where the car had become stuck in soft ground, later in the morning of March 19 last year.

Both were arrested and ultimately charged with robbery and bilking, relating to the unpaid petrol.

Twenty-six-year-old Fairhurst, of School Street, Howden-le-Wear, County Durham, admitted both charges early in proceedings at the crown court.

But he had to await sentence until after the outcome of the trial of his co-accused, a 24-year-old man from Close House, near Bishop Auckland.

He was cleared of both at trial late last year, with the sentencing hearing on Fairhurst further delayed, awaiting the prognosis of an MRI scan on the victim to check for potential sight loss, arising as a result of the punches to the side of his face.

Mr Baker said, following consultation late last month, however, the victim has been told there should be no lasting damage.

Scott Smith, for Fairhurst, told the court that despite his lengthy list of previous convictions, he has now decided to try to settle down and lead a crime-free life when released.

Mr Smith said during his lengthy period in custody awaiting sentence, the defendant has achieved a “trusty” status on his wing in Holme House Prison, near Stockton.

Jailing him for four years, Judge Simon Hickey said he came close to reaching the conclusion that, given his record, the defendant was a “danger to the public” which could have seen a further three years added to his sentence.

Judge Hickey also ordered the defendant to pay £480 compensation to the victim of the car-jacking from money he has accrued while working in prison.