A ROBBER who pounced on a woman motorist at traffic lights was jailed for three years and 11 months yesterday after the judge said that such crimes were on the increase.

The woman was waiting at red lights in the centre of Middlesbrough when her passenger door was pulled open and her handbag snatched from beside her, said Michael O'Neill, prosecuting.

Two men who saw her struggle with robber David Hall, 32, in Borough Road, chased after him. One man caught him and recovered the bag, but then Hall, a heroin addict, pulled out a hypodermic syringe and waved it in a threatening manner.

Hall managed to escape, but a police car arrived and he was arrested, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Hall, who had a previous conviction for robbery, claimed that he became a heroin addict after using it as a painkiller for a serious head injury.

The men helped in his capture were given a court commendation by Judge Les Spittle, who said: "They were very brave and instrumental in him being arrested and brought to book."

The judge told Hall: "The offence of attacks upon women in cars and robberies has become far too prevalent. They are seen as easy targets.

"Women no doubt feel safe and secure in their cars and they are at risk of suffering injury when they seek to prevent that.

"This is a serious offence, a street robbery upon a vulnerable target, and an offence that must attract a sentence to deter others."

Hall, of Devonshire Road, Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty to robbery and affray on January 30.