ONE of Grimsby's best-known and most prolific criminals has been given a golden opportunity to turn over a new leaf.
Kye Green – who was given the area's first antisocial behaviour order in 2003 – won his freedom from custody after a glowing report from a prison officer.
Green, 24, of Tennyson Street, Grimsby, admitted attempted robbery and taking a vehicle without consent.
He had been in custody since October 10 and, because of this, was given a sentence which meant he would be released almost immediately.
Green and co-defendant Andrew Thompson, 24, of South Parade, Grimsby, who also admitted attempted robbery, were involved in a nasty confrontation with a woman on September 14.
Craig Lowe, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Green and Thompson approached supermarket worker Samantha Weston in a "menacing way" after 6.40am.
She had originally been going to work but returned home after forgetting something.
She heard a voice say: "Give me your bag" and both men grabbed hold of her handbag.
She bravely resisted, however, and they gave up. Thompson let go of the bag and ran off. The worker was left upset and shocked.
Green also took a car from Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, between October 6 and 7. It was found parked in Wingfield Road and Green was arrested nearby.
The court heard that Green's catalogue of crime began with shoplifting in 1999 when he was aged 10.
He committed offences of violence in 2000 and burglary and violence.
He had a conviction for wounding in 2002, as well as others for criminal damage, dishonesty, possessing a blade and affray.
More offences of violence – and custodial sentences – followed in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.
Green had a conviction for assaulting police in 2007 and for a public order offence in 2008. He had been jailed for four months in 2008 for threatening behaviour.
He received a suspended sentence for three assault offences in 2009 and in June 11 had convictions for two criminal damage offences.
Richard Hackfath, mitigating, said a prison officer had provided a glowing letter, saying how much Green had rehabilitated himself while in prison. There were also certificates he had achieved.
Positive letters from his sister, Stevie Green, and himself were also considered by the court.
Judge Mark Bury told Green that the prison officer had written in "fairly glowing terms" about his progress and this was a "remarkably rare" thing.
"You are just about worthy of a chance to get your life back together," said Judge Bury.
Green was jailed for a year but, because of his time in custody, was expected to be released almost immediately.
Thompson was given a one-year suspended prison sentence and a one-year supervision order.
