ROBBERS targeted a man after seeing him sit on a bench in Bolton town centre take a new laptop he had just bought out of a bag.
Raymond Hill and Emmanuel Tsveta followed Leon Rae home and robbed him as he reached his front door.
Bolton Crown Court heard how Tsveta, who is originally from Zimbabwe, grabbed the bag, breaking the strap in the struggle.
The pair went on to sell the laptop for £82 at a town centre pawn shop. David Clarke, prosecuting, said that fortunately Mr Rae was not injured.
Hill, aged 23, of Horsa Street, Bolton, and Tsveta, aged 28, of Duke Street, Bolton, both pleaded guilty to robbery.
Colin Buckle, defending Tsveta, said the crime came when he was homeless, not receiving benefits and had no money for food, but he was now working for Bolton Council’s waste disposal department and has accommodation.
Both men were given a 12- month jail sentence, suspended for 12 months by Recorder Andrew Long.
They were both also ordered to do 200 hours’ unpaid work and Tsveta was also ordered to pay £41 compensation.
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