Mugger back in the dock

Robbed OAP, 75

A crook who knocked a 75-year-old woman over and robbed her of her handbag faces a further court review.

Kieran Toal, 24, committed the offence , which left the pensioner requiring hospital treatment, on Academy Street, Coatbridge, in 2014.

Toal, of Langloan, pled guilty in November 2015 and narrowly avoided jail time when he was placed under 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 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, who stays on Langloan Crescent, and retrieve the items.

They got the bag back but the purse was missing and the victim was taken to Monklands Hospital.

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 imagine.

“It’s a struggle for him to open up about the offence as he is simply so ashamed.”

Toal was back in court for a review of his order last Wednesday and Sheriff Petra Collins told him to return for further assessment in six months’ time.

She said: “We will also get a community payback order progress report.”