A man has been jailed for the sickening assault and robbery of an 87-year-old female in Westminster.
Collin Reid, 42, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, 2nd March. He was sentenced to six years and four months behind bars.
The court heard how on 7 July 2020, the 87-year-old female victim took a bus to buy groceries at a supermarket on Tottenham Court Road.
When she had completed her shopping, she returned by bus to her home address off Charing Cross Road.
As she entered the gated area of her home address, she was attacked by Reid, who attempted to take her bag.
However, the bag was worn diagonally across the victim’s body and would not come free as Reid pulled it.
Reid then pushed his victim to the ground and kicked her in the back while she lay on the floor as he continued to try to break the bag strap free instead of pulling it over the victim’s head.
Four passers-by heard Reid’s victim as she cried for help.
One of them quickly took out their phone and took pictures of Reid, which officers later used to help convict Reid of the cowardly attack.
The victim suffered extensive injuries to her arm, knees and back.
Immediately following the assault, the suspect entered a nearby building where he took two purses from the handbag before disposing of the bag and making off.
Detectives launched an investigation, and Reid was arrested on 16 September 2020 at an address on Guildford Street, WC1, on suspicion of robbery.
A month after entering an initial not guilty plea, Reid appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Tuesday, 24 November, where, due to the weight of the evidence against him, he changed his plea to guilty.
Detective Constable James Brooks, of the Met’s Central West Basic Command Unit, said:
“The victim in this case, although physically very frail, has been very strong throughout our investigation and the subsequent hearings at court.
“Although she is on the road to recovery from the injuries inflicted by Reid during the attack, the psychological effects of this incident will continue far beyond the healing of her physical injuries.
“I would like to thank the witnesses who intervened and took images of Reid and who rushed to the victim’s side to help her.
“I hope that everyone concerned finds some satisfaction in the knowledge that Reid admitted the offence and that he will now spend a significant time in prison for his callous and cowardly actions to steal £60 from a pensioner.”
Stay up-to-date with more news from the front line by subscribing to our free newsletter. Subscribe by clicking HERE.
If you have the Google News app on your phone, don’t forget to follow Emergency Services News.
Got a story? Send your videos and pictures to contact@emergency-services.news You can also find us on Twitter @ES_News_
