Heroin addict stole £170 from woman, 80, who has dementia
A HEROIN addict, desperate for money to buy drugs, stole a purse from an elderly woman as she walked home after shopping.
Andrew Ian McKenna, of no fixed address but from the Bangor area, rifled through the purse and took £170 before throwing it into the sea.
The 43-year-old told police he felt “ashamed and disgusted” by what he had done.
A judge at Caernarfon Crown Court was told the purse contained photographs of huge sentimental value to the 80-year-old woman.
The 43-year-old admitted a charge of theft at an earlier hearing and appeared from custody for sentence.
Jailing him for 16 months Judge Huw Rees said: “She was doing nothing more than going home with her shopping. Thankfully she was not physically injured but she was shaken by this experience.
“You have expressed shame and you should be ashamed.”
He added: “The sentence is aggravated by your previous convictions, all for dishonesty. You have been a dishonest man for a very long time.”
Prosecutor Claire Jones said the victim suffered from dementia.
“She was walking home and was on a narrow lane in the Hirael area. The defendant walked up behind her and grabbed a plastic bag.
“It contained a loaf and some other items and her purse with £170 in cash, keys, a bank card and the photographs,” she said.
Defending, Dafydd Roberts said: “If the court needed an example of how low a drug addict would stoop to get money this is it.
“The defendant is aware of what he has done and understands he must be punished. He also realises he will receive a custodial sentence and it will be one of some length.”
Mr Roberts added McKenna had resolved to rid himself of his addiction to heroin while in prison.
After the hearing Det Con Sioned Jones of North Wales Police said: “McKenna is a prolific offender and his sentence will bring a degree of relief to many in the community and particularly his latest victim.
“I welcome the sentence and hope it will provide the public with some reassurance and make our communities safer.”