Stockton man dragged woman to floor in failed bag snatch

Thomas Oliver repeatedly cycles past the woman while she was waiting to have a new tyre fitted to her mobility car before he grabbed hold of the strap and dragged her to the floor.

The 35-year-old repeat offender cycled off empty handed but police were able to follow his escape route on CCTV and arrested him at a nearby property.

Teesside Crown Court heard how Oliver initially said to officers ‘is this about the handbag snatch’ before changing his story.

Jenny Haigh, prosecuting, said the victim had multiple medical conditions, including brittle bones, and had been left hysterical by the attempted bag snatch while she waited near the Kwik Fit garage on Yarm Road, Stockton.

She said: “The defendant was riding around the area on his bike, he rode past her again and grabbed the strap of her handbag.

“He pulled it with force and caused her to spin around before falling to the ground. She was holding onto the bag and the defendant rode off on his bike.”

Miss Haigh said to passersby came to her aid after she was unable to get up of the floor due to the pain she was suffering.

She added: “She was upset, she was crying and she became hysterical.”

Thomas Oliver (Image: Cleveland Police)

Oliver, of Densham Drive, Stockton, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery following the events of August 20 this year.

Nigel Soppitt, mitigating, said his client had been doing well since his last release from prison but had fallen into old habits after his partner took an overdose.

He told the court that he had taken some drugs on the day in question but accepted he would be facing a prison term.

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Recorder Thomas Moran jailed Oliver for three years and two months for the failed bag snatch attempt on the 64-year-old woman.

He said: “You rode past her more than once and then you tried to grab her bag, she bravely tried to hold on to it. You gave up then and you left the scene.

“She hit the ground with some force and suffered a number of injuries.

“She was in a state of shock and began crying and was laid on the floor until two kind passersby helped her to get up.”