Martin Keenan, aged 21, was locked up indefinitely for the public's protection after he admitted the robbery of Andrew Jones, committed right under town centre CCTV cameras.
Northampton Crown Court was yesterday shown footage from CCTV cameras in
Abington Street from 11pm on Tuesday, June 3, showing an intoxicated Mr Jones repeatedly falling over.
He was seen taking over 35 minutes to stagger 100 yards down the street before Keenan approached him and tried to help him up.
But while Mr Jones continued to lie on the ground near to the entrance of Peacock Place, Keenan decided to carry out a robbery instead.
The CCTV film showed Mr Jones being punched three times in the face, causing a broken nose before Keenan walked off up Wellington Street with his wallet.
Judge Peter Morrell said he was passing an indeterminate sentence for public protection as it was Keenan's fifth robbery conviction and he had a history of targeting vulnerable victims.
He said: "I am quite satisfied the criteria for dangerousness is met in this case.
"There is a real risk of serious harm to members of the public being caused by further offending in the future of offences of this nature.
"You will be detained in prison until such time the parole board are satisfied you no longer represent a serious risk of harm to the public."
Keenan, of no fixed address, who previously admitted robbery, was told he would have received a four-year prison sentence but due to being assessed as a dangerous offender, Judge Morrell said he would now serve a minimum of two years and would only be released once it is decided safe to do so.
Upon his release from prison, Keenan will also be on licence, and liable for recall to prison, for a decade and would be on licence for life if he re-offends.
Stephen Crouch, defending, said Keenan started drinking heavily upon the death of his mother, who was his only close relative, and came from a very troubled background.
He added: "He is somebody who is still only 21 and not so hopeless that he can be sent to prison for such a long time that he would lose all hope.
"This is a young man who needs a great deal of help."
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