A man who snatched a woman’s handbag and dragged her along the ground in a broad daylight robbery in Altrincham has been jailed.
Karl Wilson, 46, of no fixed address, was sentence to two years and three months for the attack, which happened on September 2nd last year.
Manchester Crown Court heard that the woman, aged around 60, had been shopping in Sports Direct at the Altrincham Retail Park and was walking to Asda on George Richards Way when she was confronted by Wilson.
After mumbling some words – which she did not understand as she is Turkish and does not speak English – Wilson grabbed her handbag, causing her to fall to the ground.
Wilson dragged at the bag and pulled the victim along the pavement for a couple of metres until she let go. She then flagged down a passing car for help as Wilson ran off.
The court heard that the attack, which happened at about 3pm, caused the woman “significant pain and discomfort” as she already suffered from arthritis.
The court also heard about a robbery Wilson carried out a newsagents in Salford on October 6th, during which £265 in cash was stolen. A man in a nearby pub managed to catch Wilson after a struggle, and brought him back to the newsagents to return the cash.
Judge Richard Mansell QC told Wilson: “You must have been desperate for money, but money for what is unclear.
“You told the probation officer you may have been drinking, but you said you only drank four or five beers a day which would not explain this sudden desperation for cash.
“I don’t know what the truth is. It doesn’t matter,” he added, in quotes carried by the MEN.
Speaking of the robbery, the judge added: “Given the fact you are six foot and aged 46, I regard this as cowardly in the extreme.”
Wilson, who appeared in court via Skype, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery, one count of burglary and a bail-related offence.
