Duo robbed woman in front of young son
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JON MACPHERSON
TWO men wearing balaclavas and dark clothing who robbed a woman of her handbag in front of her young son have been jailed for a total of six years.
Victim Lisa Walmsley had just arrived home to Alexandra Close in Clayton-le-Moors when offenders Fraser Robertson and Oliver Taylor approached her from a nearby alleyway, a court heard.
The mum-of-five was ‘understandably shocked and fearful’ and tried to get back inside her van.
Prosecutor Paul Docherty told Burnley Crown Court: “She tried to close the door but her attempt to do that was stopped by the ‘taller one’ [Robertson] who put his hand on the door. She panicked and tried to move away from him.
“[Robertson] then reached in and took hold of the strap on her bag. He pulled hard on that and she resisted.
“He pulled her so hard that she described herself as being pulled along the seat.
“No sooner had she felt the impact of the impact that she either let go or the strap snapped.
“Both men then turned and ran away from her and made off.”
The court heard how the incident happened at 7pm on May 9 last year and was witnessed by her young son.
Mr Docherty said Ms Walmsley’s ex-partner and his brother who were at her home then chased after the robbers.
The ‘rather sizeable handbag’ included an iPhone, e-cigarette, spare keys, a passport, driving licence, bank cards and £190 cash.
Both defendants were originally charged with possessing an imitation firearm, however Mr A FULL planning application has been made by householder for a new single-storey extension to the rear of 84, Fountain street, Accrington.
MR Andrew Moores has submitted a full planning and listed building consent application for a Grade II Docherty said they now ‘don’t rely on the allegation’.
He told the court: “It’s plain that each defendant had an item of some sort but at the scene no object was seen to be used or displayed.”
The court heard that Robertson and Taylor tried to flee the scene by going through house gardens and a helicopter and police dogs were called to the area.
The men were witnessed going into the grounds of the Sparth House hotel before hiding in a house shed.
Mr Docherty said it was used by the defendants to ‘rid themselves of what they saw as incriminating apparel’.
He said: “The dog handlers picked up the scent and pursued them to the shed.”
When they were arrested officers found a black jacket, anorak, ski masks and gloves.
Referring to Walmsley’s Ms victim listed barn conversion at Lower Friar Hill Farm Green, Haworth, Accrington, changing from agricultural use to a residential dwelling with associated site works.
A FULL proposal and advertisement application has been submitted by Cardtronics UK Ltd for the retention impact statement, Mr Docherty said: “The unsurprising effect of the robbery is that Ms Walmsley found it a terrifying incident because she knew she had a young child with her.
“She felt physically sick and was shaking. Afterwards she felt her confidence had gone.
“She was so fearful that she had a desire to relocate as she doesn’t feel safe in her home.”
Robertson, 26, and Taylor, 29, both pleaded guilty on the day of trial to robbery.
Hugh McKee, defending Robertson, said his client was addicted to amphetamines at the time of the incident and is ‘genuinely remorseful’.
He said the dad-ofone has been on remand in custody since August 2019 and that has ‘allowed him time to think about what he did’.
Defence barrister Brendan O’Leary said Taylor is also a ‘changed person’ and is ‘in a much better place now that 18 months ago in terms of his health and wellbeing’.
He said: “He has an unenviable record but doesn’t have any offences of violence or public order matters.
“This is an offence that’s out of character for him. It’s an escalation in a way that’s not borne out by his previous convictions.”
Robertson, of Mount St James, Blackburn, and Taylor, of Ottershaw Gardens, Blackburn, were each jailed for three years. of an automated teller machine and signage – retrospective – at 37, Windsor Road, Knuzden Brook, Oswaldtwistle.
MISS Sophie Johnson has made a prior approval submission to change the use of a shop at 28, Queen Street, Great Harwood, to a deli-bistro.