Woman let go of handbag when she saw gun pointing at stomach

A WOMAN being robbed in Devonport let go of her handbag when she realised the man she was fighting with was pointing a gun at her stomach, a court has heard.

Nathan Luke Deckers, 28, pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of the 63-year-old woman and the attempted armed robbery of a 72-year-old woman earlier the same day.

He appeared on Thursday in the Supreme Court in Launceston where defence lawyer Evan Hughes made sentencing submissions before Justice Michael Brett.

Prosecutor John Ransom told the court Deckers had received the replica gun through the post in Launceston on July 2 before another man drove him to the Reading Cinemas car park in Devonport.

Deckers wanted his accomplice to park near the public toilets, close to the Commonwealth Bank branch.

He entered Priceline Pharmacy, next door to the bank, and asked staff where the bank was. He left the store, then returned and followed 72-yearold Susan Reynolds grabbed her handbag.

Ms Reynolds, who uses a walking stick, fell to the ground sustaining minor bruising and grazes and aggravating an existing knee injury.

Deckers ran off having been observed by witnesses and captured on CCTV footage.

The court heard he returned to the area a short time later out and and confronted 63-year-old Karen Maynard saying “give me your handbag” and trying to snatch it from her.

Ms Maynard held on to the bag until she “looked down and saw he was holding a gun, pointed at her stomach”.

Deckers ran off and jumped in the car with his accomplice, who drove him away.

Mr Hughes said his client fell into criminal activity due to his addiction to illicit substances. The crimes were ill-planned and Deckers had entered guilty pleas.

Justice Brett rejected that the offences were ill-conceived saying he had ordered a replica gun and had selected two “vulnerable people” as targets.

The matter was adjourned to August 12 for sentencing.