A man mugged a frail dementia sufferer after she opened her purse to show him pictures of her grandchildren.

Barber Shakil noticed that 87-year-old Jozefa Kotowski had a wad of notes inside her purse as she chatted to him at Fartown Post Office.

Shakil, of Dyson Street in Dalton, then joked to a friend that he was going to mug the pensioner moments before stealing from her.

The 20-year-old admitted the theft at Kirklees Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

Vanessa Schofield, prosecuting, said that the incident happened on November 21 at around 7pm.

She said that Mrs Kotowski was a regular customer at the Post Office and already knew Shakil, who had previously worked at the store and was there at the same time.

Ms Schofield said: “She spoke to Mr Shakil and showed him her pictures of her grandchildren which she took out of her purse.

“It also had in it £80 in cash and a Metro bus pass.”

Magistrates heard that Shakil then left the Fartown Green Road Post Office with a friend, helping him with his bags.

Shakil asked the friend if he could give him £10 for helping with his shopping, however he said that he had spent his money in the shop.

Ms Schofield said: “Mr Shakil said he’d seen a lot of money in the old lady’s purse and said: ‘I’m going to mug her’.”

The prosecutor said that Shakil claimed that his comment was a joke and the pair parted company.

Shakil then saw Mrs Kotowski making her way home and doubled back to speak with her.

Ms Schofield said: “He grabbed her purse from her hand and ran away.

“Mrs Kotowski screamed when this happened.”

Magistrates heard that police searched a garage that Shakil had been sleeping in for a few days and discovered the pensioner’s bus pass.

Bob Carr, mitigating, described the offence as ‘stupid’.

He said: “He used to work in the Post Office and everyone knows him.

“I don’t know what possessed him to take the item from this woman who could obviously identify him.

“He then made the ridiculous comment to his friend ‘I’m going to mug her’ and then goes on and mugs her.”

Magistrates ordered a full report on Shakil and told him that his sentencing will take place on January 23.

He was granted unconditional bail.