A bag-snatcher who targeted a woman as she was opening up a shop at work has been locked up after using the stolen bank card to buy sweets.

Martin Egner grabbed the woman’s handbag from her shoulder and after a brief tussle he managed to snatch it away and leg it from the scene at Stockton’s Castlegate shopping centre.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 29-year-old was chased by the victim and bystanders but managed to escape but his robbery was caught on CCTV.

Rachel Masters, prosecuting, said Egner then tried to use one of the victim’s stolen bank cards to get cashback but the staff at Dhillon Food and Wine store refused as he was acting suspiciously but he did use the card to buy £2.50 worth of sweets.

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She said Egner was also confronted by another member of the public after she saw him carrying the handbag before police arrived and arrested the defendant.

Miss Master said the robbery had resulted in the victim changing jobs.

Reading from her victim personal statement, she added: “She has been highly on edge and is aware of changes to her habits as a direct result of this incident. She doesn’t like people being near her and the incident has left her feeling paranoid.”

The court heard how Egner had a previous conviction for robbery when he received a suspended sentence in 2012.

Egner, of Bishopton Road, Stockton, pleaded guilty to robbery and fraud following the bag-snatch at around 9am on April 18.

Gary Wood, in mitigation, said his client was ashamed of his behaviour and used his time in custody to get himself free from his drug addiction.

He added: “He is ashamed of his behaviour which is something he told the police in his police interview. He describes his actions as out of order and is very sorry for what he put the complainant through.”

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Judge Paul Watson QC, the Recorder of Middlesbrough, jailed Egner for two years for both offences.

He added: “On this occasion you attacked and stole a handbag from a shop worker who was doing no more than opening the shutters at the beginning of her working day.

“The whole thing was seen on CCTV and you were arrested nearby.”

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