A DEAF teenager who has learning difficulties has been sentenced to a hospital order – two years after snatching an elderly woman’s handbag.

Martin Richardson has been undergoing psychiatric assessment for several months at a mental health unit in Greater Manchester since admitting the robbery, in Consett, County Durham.

He also pleaded guilty to causing an affray and damage at a disused church in nearby Langley Park.

But he was deemed able to be sentenced at the court yesterday, almost two years to the day of the bag snatch.

The court heard that Richardson grabbed the bag from an 88-year-old woman after following her from a hairdresser’s salon.

Michael Graham, prosecuting, said the bag was later recovered minus £50 to £60, which, when later arrested, Richardson admitted spending on arcade games.

Mr Graham said the incident had a “massive impact”

on the victim – leaving her suffering from sleepless nights and afraid to go out for some time.

In the other incident at the former St Joseph’s Church, in Langley Park, which was being used as a home, Richardson was among several youths who broke in and caused widespread damage, threatening two residents with a pole, in August, 2009.

Mr Graham said it was during a period from January 2008 to December last year that Richardson made 22 court appearances for 37 offences, receiving mostly supervision orders.

Richardson, now 19, of Ponds Court, Consett, admitted charges of robbery, burglary, criminal damage and affray, at a hearing in August last year.

David Callan, mitigating, said psychiatric reports recommend continued treatment at the unit, as Richardson would be, “a wholly vulnerable person in a prison environment”.

Judge Christopher Prince imposed the hospital order, which will permit his release only when doctors allow it.

Through a signing interpreter, Judge Prince told Richardson: “These are serious offences but you will be detained in a hospital rather than a young offenders’ institution.”