A HOMELESS man robbed a friend who had given him a room for the night then tried to commit suicide over his guilt.

Steven Storer, who was living rough in a tent in Oxford, attacked Matthew Bodey in his house and took his mobile phone.

The incident took place on November 16.

The 33-year-old defendant admitted robbery at Oxford Crown Court on Friday and was jailed for two years and four months.

Prosecutor Jonathan Stone said Storer, who has 18 previous convictions for 36 offences, met Mr Bodey while the pair were in prison.

On November 15 the victim agreed to let Storer stay at his house but was woken in his bed in the early hours by the defendant punching him.

Mr Bodey initially refused to hand over his phone and said: “Why are you doing this? I’ve done so much for you.”

Storer replied: “I know what I’m doing. I need the money, I’ve got a drug problem.”

He then grabbed a knife from the kitchen and threatened his friend who decided to hand over his phone.

About an hour later the defendant flagged down a police car and handed himself in, telling an officer he had tried to commit suicide after the robbery.

Graham Bennett, defending, said his client was “feeling the effects of withdrawal from his drug addiction”.

He said Storer’s step-brother had recently killed himself and his mother had also died.

He added: “I’m afraid this was an incident driven by his need for drugs, an act of violence against his friend.”

Judge Julian Hall jailed him for 28 months and said: “You betrayed your friend and you robbed him.”