You're jailing me for taking handbag and £25?

[davieG]

Merc

A crook protested in court after he was jailed for three years for mugging a frail pensioner.

Reuben Drury said from the dock: "It was only a bag and £25."

However, Judge Ebraham Mooncey replied: "It doesn't matter if it was a penny. It wasn't yours."

Leicester Crown Court was told the 73-year-old victim was knocked to the ground during the robbery, at 10am on September 16, in St Nicholas Circle, in the city centre.

She was planning to go shopping in Leicester before meeting friends to celebrate her birthday. The woman was pulling a red shopping trolley which Drury suddenly grabbed, said Victoria Rose, prosecuting.

"The complainant held on to it, but he used so much force she was knocked to the ground," she said.

"He ran off with her shopping trolley and her handbag."

The court was told a passing driver realised what had happened and went after Drury, pursuing him into Vaughan Way.

The man saw the 22-year-old discarding some items, including the victim's trolley, handbag and house keys, which he retrieved to return to her.

He also took a photograph of Drury, who was wearing a distinctive jacket, which helped the police to identify him.

Judge Mooncey commended the public spirited motorist and awarded him £300 from public funds.

The court was told the pensioner lost two purses, two mobile phones, a bus pass and £70 in cash in the robbery – not the £25 that Drury claimed he had stolen.

Miss Rose said: "She banged her knees on the pavement, causing bruising and swelling and it made it difficult for her to walk.

"She had a badly bruised right arm."

The woman also found it difficult to get dressed and carry out chores – and fears further attacks if she goes out, Miss Rose added. Sentencing Drury, of no fixed address, Judge Mooncey said: "You might like to reflect on the fact everybody ends up getting old, and the way you behaved on that day was outrageous. She was a vulnerable victim.

"We can see on CCTV footage she's very frail as she makes her way slowly across the road.

"We see you approaching from a side road. You grabbed her shopping trolley, forcefully trying to take it off her and she ends up on the ground.

"She was in severe pain and has tremendous trouble using her arm now.

"She has problems putting on her clothes and getting out and about and enjoying her life independently.

"She didn't deserve what happened to her.

"Sympathy for you being homeless goes out of the window, because you picked on a helpless old lady."

Drury admitted the robbery.

The court heard that Drury, whose family are from the travelling community, had left home and was living rough in Leicester, sleeping on park benches.

There was a problem with his benefits and he needed money for food because he was so hungry.

"He'd been surviving on charity given out by a Sikh temple," said Sally Bamford, mitigating. "He hadn't eaten that day and made a wrong decision to act in the way he did. It was because he was in a desperate situation."

[Kilworthfox]

Merc

A crook protested in court after he was jailed for three years for mugging a frail pensioner.

Reuben Drury said from the dock: "It was only a bag and £25."

However, Judge Ebraham Mooncey replied: "It doesn't matter if it was a penny. It wasn't yours."

Leicester Crown Court was told the 73-year-old victim was knocked to the ground during the robbery, at 10am on September 16, in St Nicholas Circle, in the city centre.

She was planning to go shopping in Leicester before meeting friends to celebrate her birthday. The woman was pulling a red shopping trolley which Drury suddenly grabbed, said Victoria Rose, prosecuting.

"The complainant held on to it, but he used so much force she was knocked to the ground," she said.

"He ran off with her shopping trolley and her handbag."

The court was told a passing driver realised what had happened and went after Drury, pursuing him into Vaughan Way.

The man saw the 22-year-old discarding some items, including the victim's trolley, handbag and house keys, which he retrieved to return to her.

He also took a photograph of Drury, who was wearing a distinctive jacket, which helped the police to identify him.

Judge Mooncey commended the public spirited motorist and awarded him £300 from public funds.

The court was told the pensioner lost two purses, two mobile phones, a bus pass and £70 in cash in the robbery – not the £25 that Drury claimed he had stolen.

Miss Rose said: "She banged her knees on the pavement, causing bruising and swelling and it made it difficult for her to walk.

"She had a badly bruised right arm."

The woman also found it difficult to get dressed and carry out chores – and fears further attacks if she goes out, Miss Rose added. Sentencing Drury, of no fixed address, Judge Mooncey said: "You might like to reflect on the fact everybody ends up getting old, and the way you behaved on that day was outrageous. She was a vulnerable victim.

"We can see on CCTV footage she's very frail as she makes her way slowly across the road.

"We see you approaching from a side road. You grabbed her shopping trolley, forcefully trying to take it off her and she ends up on the ground.

"She was in severe pain and has tremendous trouble using her arm now.

"She has problems putting on her clothes and getting out and about and enjoying her life independently.

"She didn't deserve what happened to her.

"Sympathy for you being homeless goes out of the window, because you picked on a helpless old lady."

Drury admitted the robbery.

The court heard that Drury, whose family are from the travelling community, had left home and was living rough in Leicester, sleeping on park benches.

There was a problem with his benefits and he needed money for food because he was so hungry.

"He'd been surviving on charity given out by a Sikh temple," said Sally Bamford, mitigating. "He hadn't eaten that day and made a wrong decision to act in the way he did. It was because he was in a desperate situation."

How terrible!

Just because you in a really bad situation yourself, does not give yoiu the right to steal! Come steal from me im a 28 year old guy, not a vounerable old lady walking across the street on her 73rd birthday! What a cretin!

Got what he deserved for the act, but maybe this says something about our benefits system?

[1964FOX]

What a shame it's only three years (18 months in reality) but the real issue is that he des not realise that the worst part of his offence is that he attacked a vulnerable elderly lady - absolute scum.

[flowwolf]

His comment just about sums up the mentality of the underclass thieving scum that feel the world owes them a living. It must have come a bit of a shock to him that at last the courts are swinging back to relative punishment that fit the crime. The latest one being that if you are caught burgling someones home don't come looking to the justice system if you get shot .

Years ago he would have been Birched but I think that's going too far, no one should be made to sit down and hear stories of how good football was in the seventies.

[Zingari]

His comment just about sums up the mentality of the underclass thieving scum that feel the world owes them a living. It must have come a bit of a shock to him that at last the courts are swinging back to relative punishment that fit the crime. The latest one being that if you are caught burgling someones home don't come looking to the justice system if you get shot .

Years ago he would have been Birched but I think that's going too far, no one should be made to sit down and hear stories of how good football was in the seventies.

Cheeky

[ADK]

And yet there are some people on here who would say he is a victim and should get loads of taxpayers money spent on him...

[steveherbe]

Shoot the retard - and this from someone whos wife works in the prison system!

[MooseBreath]

It doesn't matter if it was a penny. It wasn't yours.

What a great line. If only it was true. This guy has no doubt been stealing other people's money legally through the benefits system for years.

Reactions -

Sensible people: lock him up, you can't take what's not yours.

Liberals: apologise, he obviously wasn't given enough money and the poor guy had no choice but to turn to crime. Make sure it never happens again by doubling his benefits allowance.

[Guest Col city fan]

And yet there are some people on here who would say he is a victim and should get loads of taxpayers money spent on him...

[purpleronnie]

It doesn't matter if it was a penny. It wasn't yours.

What a great line. If only it was true. This guy has no doubt been stealing other people's money legally through the benefits system for years.

Reactions -

Sensible people: lock him up, you can't take what's not yours.

Liberals: apologise, he obviously wasn't given enough money and the poor guy had no choice but to turn to crime. Make sure it never happens again by doubling his benefits allowance.

Bitter much?

[JonnyBoy]

stories of people mugging old women and men make me sick.

[Parafox]

stories of people mugging old women and men make me sick.

Hmm... the Tories plan to reduce or remove support allowances from thousands of genuinely disabled (mostly elderly) people?

[Guest Col city fan]

Hmm... the Tories plan to reduce or remove support allowances from thousands of genuinely disabled (mostly elderly) people?

I genuinely can't believe some of the Tory proposals. This one perhaps being the most bizarre of all.

[Parafox]

I genuinely can't believe some of the Tory proposals. This one perhaps being the most bizarre of all.

They hate anybody who gets any kind of benefit.

Most employers are Tories and would happily have people working for pence if they could get away with it. And most genuinely believe that all claimants are scroungers who do nothing for society.

In this particular case that would appear to be true.

[Guest MattP]

Yes because we have a never ending supply of money trees so lets just keep giving benefits out to everyone. In case you havent noticed we are skint.

Glad scum like this is off the streets.

[Parafox]

Yes because we have a never ending supply of money trees so lets just keep giving benefits out to everyone. In case you havent noticed we are skint.

Glad scum like this is off the streets.

Methinks you misunderstand my point.

Not saying benefits shouldn't be reviewed but the disabled seem to have become a target minority for this government.

[Guest MattP]

Methinks you misunderstand my point.

Not saying benefits shouldn't be reviewed but the disabled seem to have become a target minority for this government.

Considering Gordon Brown got a cheer and a standing ovation at the Paralympics i'd be doing some serious investigating as well.

[indierich06]

Well, he'll be alright for food and shelter in prison anyway. I don't buy that he was so desperate that he had to mug an old lady to get money for food - shoplifting from Tesco or Asda is far less risky and it's a victimless crime. Attacking a helpless old lady is just shameful. Good to see there are still some good samaritans around though, like the chap in the story.

This does highlight the absolute shambles that is our benefit system though - people living on the street can't get benefits, but any fat council estate slag who pops out kid after kid gets a blank cheque, the way benefit payments are adminstered and who they're paid to is an absolute joke.

[ithuriel]

We should reduce the number of politicians and civil servants but then the scrounging bastards would try to screw the country up and bring it to a standstill, .....hmmm,.......nothing would change much then, lets get rid

[Parafox]

Well, he'll be alright for food and shelter in prison anyway. I don't buy that he was so desperate that he had to mug an old lady to get money for food - shoplifting from Tesco or Asda is far less risky and it's a victimless crime. Attacking a helpless old lady is just shameful. Good to see there are still some good samaritans around though, like the chap in the story.

This does highlight the absolute shambles that is our benefit system though - people living on the street can't get benefits, but any fat council estate slag who pops out kid after kid gets a blank cheque, the way benefit payments are adminstered and who they're paid to is an absolute joke.

Whoooo... sweeping generalisation alert...

[Houdini Logic]

I'm probably more concerned with the comments on here than the person in the article

[purpleronnie]

I'm probably more concerned with the comments on here than the person in the article

I'm with you there.

In closing.

Most people on benefits are workshy layabouts.

Any woman with a child shouldn't recieve benefits.

Any homeless person should be given benefits.

Anyone who robs an old person should recieve years in jail no matter what the circumstances are.

And people say some on here are right wing?

[Jon the Hat]

The bloke deserves to be in prison. There are no mitigating circumstances other than mental illness which should change that, and if he were mentally ill he would need to spend some time on a locked ward getting help.

[Rincewind]

True, if there was a place available and a place that had not closed down due to cost saving cuts. He may get better phsycahatric help in prison.

[Guest MattP]

His comment just about sums up the mentality of the underclass thieving scum that feel the world owes them a living. It must have come a bit of a shock to him that at last the courts are swinging back to relative punishment that fit the crime. The latest one being that if you are caught burgling someones home don't come looking to the justice system if you get shot .

Years ago he would have been Birched but I think that's going too far, no one should be made to sit down and hear stories of how good football was in the seventies.

Started to notice this a little bit more lately, something certainly seems to have happened.