Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Bag snatcher failed to appear
A Langloan man who knocked a 75-year-old woman to the ground and robbed her of her handbag faces a further court review, having failed to show up in the dock last week.
Kieran Toal, 24, committed the offence – which left the pensioner requiring hospital treatment, on Academy Street, Coatbridge, in 2014.
Toal, a Langloan Crescent resident, pleaded guilty in November 2015 and narrowly avoided prison when he was placed under 18 months’supervision and ordered to complete 250 hours of unpaid work as a direct alternative to custody at Airdrie Sheriff Court in January of last year.
During his sentencing the court heard that Toal’s victim was walking home after a shopping trip when she felt a tug at her arm.
She was dragged to the ground and her bag was snatched by the accused, who ran off.
Two witnesses saw the incident and gave chase in a bid to catch Toal and retrieve the items.
They got the bag back but the elderly woman’s purse was missing and the victim was taken to Monklands Hospital for treatment to her injuries.
Defence lawyer Steven Lilly said: “This offence can’t be mitigated.
“I can only try and explain why this man has not only started offending but has done so quite spectacularly.
“He had been sleeping rough, had no money and hadn’t eaten when he committed this offence.
“He has let himself down as badly as he can possibly imagine.
“It’s a struggle for him to open up about the offence as he is simply so ashamed.”
Toal was due back in court for the latest review of his order last Wednesday but failed to appear as scheduled.
Sheriff Petra Collins continued for a community payback order review on March 15 to allow for Toal’s personal appearance.