A thug has been jailed after he followed a pensioner in Huddersfield and snatched her bag when he got the opportunity.
CCTV footage later recovered by the police showed Stephen Eastham “stalking” his 79-year-old victim as she walked along Old School Lane, Almondbury, on the afternoon of November 19.
Christopher Dunn prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court the pensioner used a walking stick so was obviously vulnerable.
The footage showed Eastham following and then suddenly approaching her from behind. She felt a pull at her bag causing her to it lose her grip and as she spun round she saw a man running away with it.
The CCTV footage helped them trace the thief who was “heavily convicted” for offences of dishonesty and was on licence at the time from a sentence for burglary, said Mr Dunn.
Gillian Batts representing Eastham said he had used minimal force to take the bag but realised it was a “nasty” offence.
He had a “long and entrenched problem” with Class A drugs and on that day, desperate for drugs, saw the opportunity and committed the offence. Since his time on remand he had detoxified and was now drug free. He also was trusted with a job in prison as a menu co-ordinator on his wing.
Eastham, 35, of Eastlands, Almondbury, Huddersfield admitted theft and was jailed for 12 months.
Recorder Toby Wynn told him: “This was an unpleasant offence. You targeted a 79-year-old lady walking down the road using a walking stick, so you knew full well this victim was vulnerable, indeed this was one of the reasons you chose her and having chosen her used forced to take the bag from her.”
“This must have been an extremely shocking and frightening theft for this unfortunate lady.”
