Shropshire Star

Jailed: Telford drug addict robbed 85-year-old woman of purse

A Telford drug addict who snatched a purse from an 85-year-old woman has been jailed for 18 months.

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Storm Ramsden approached the woman asking her for £1 to get to hospital.

The pensioner gave her the money but Ramsden then grabbed the purse, shoulder barging her victim in the process.

On Friday at Shrewsbury Crown Court, Mr Recorder Stephen Thomas said that crime against a vulnerable victim was so serious only an immediate custodial sentence was appropriate.

He said Ramsden, 29, of Warrens Way, Woodside, would serve half her sentence before being released on licence. She had admitted the robbery at a previous hearing.

Mr Richard Davenport, prosecuting, said Ramsden stopped the woman as she was leaving a hair salon in Wellington in January, asking her for £1 to get to hospital.

She was given the money but then grabbed for the pensioner's purse, shoulder barging the woman, telling her she needed money for drugs.

The pensioner held on to the purse, telling Ramsden to get help for her drug problem.

She went to her car but Ramsden opened the passenger door grabbed the purse from the passenger seat and ran off.

Inadequate

The purse was found later minus £100 cash and various cards. Ramsden was recognised from CCTV footage of part of the incident, the court was told.

In a victim impact statement the pensioner said she had had a sore side for a few days and had also felt totally inadequate that she had been unable to protect her property.

The court was told that Ramsden had many shoplifting and other, previous convictions, all drug-related.

Mr Kevin Jones for Ramsden said his client had been on remand in prison for two months and it was the first time that, with the help of a prescription, she was not using drugs.

She was pregnant, he said, expecting a baby in July and wanted to change her life for the sake of her baby. He said Ramsden had had a troubled past and said her mother had written a powerful letter explaining her background.

Mr Recorder Thomas said that Ramsden had targeted her victim and, not content with the £1 she gave her, tried to take her purse.

“In the tussle the lady retained possession but you persisted and as she got into her car you grabbed the purse,” he said.

“This was a serious assault against a vulnerable woman and very distressing for her. Being an addict meant you were not in control of events.”

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