A mum-of-four has been jailed after she tried to rob a 94-year-old woman of her handbag and targeted other pensioners in burglaries .
Leeds Crown Court heard Paula Nugent was seen hanging near Morrisons’ supermarket in Heckmondwike on May 15.
As the elderly woman walked past, Nugent reached over and grabbed her handbag.
“The force she used was sufficient to pull the complainant to the ground, she fell sideways but kept hold of her bag ,” Stephanie Hancock prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court.
As the pensioner was on the ground Nugent continued to try and pull the bag away from her but a man who had witnessed what had happened went to her aid.
She was identified from CCTV in the area and arrested on June 10 and again claimed she had simply bumped into the elderly lady and then tried to help her.
She was bailed but on July 12 went to the home of an 87-year-old woman in Liversedge , where she stole a purse from a handbag.
Later the same day Nugent walked into the home of an 80-year-old woman in Heckmondiwke, asked to use the toilet and then stole £100 from a handbag.
David Orbaum representing Nugent said she had no previous convictions and “the explanation in this case is sadly as in many other cases drugs.”
“Not only was she a regular user, but significantly in terms of motivation her long term partner who died through drugs, had accrued immense drug debts and she was being put under pressure to find the money or face the consequences”.
Nugent, 38, of Seventh Avenue, Liversedge admitted attempt robbery and two offences of burglary. She also asked for three other burglaries to be taken into consideration and was jailed for a total of four years.
Recorder Taryn Turner said: “These are unquestionably wicked crimes which will incite public revulsion, it is inevitable immediate custody is imposed today”.
