Drug addict held knife to throat of vulnerable man

A drug addict held a knife to a vulnerable man's throat after taking over his home.

- Mark Payne

Dawn Robinson, 41, put a steak knife under the victim's chin after he refused to giver her money for drugs.

Teesside Crown Court heard she and other drug users had effectively moved in and taken over the man's home in what is known as cuckooing.

Mairi Clancy, prosecuting, said: "Essentially, the victim being an older vulnerable male was targeted and exploited by Dawn Robinson and others.

"They were using his property to take crack cocaine, staying over and trying to get money from him for drugs."