Robbers rammed nun with a moped and took handbag
PAIR STOLE 85-YEAR-OLD’S HOLY WATER
TWO men have been sentenced for a shocking premeditated robbery which targeted an 85-year-old nun in Cottingham Road.
Hull Crown Court heard that the victim was walking along Cottingham Road on November 23, 2019, at 7.45pm when she was rammed to the ground by a moped that had mounted the pavement and had her handbag stolen.
A teenager riding on the back of the vehicle was identified at the time as Adam Fenton (now 21), and officers arresting him also found a significant amount of cannabis at his home address.
Fenton, of Terry Street in Hull, led officers to the moped driver, Matthew Goodwillie, 23, who would have avoided charges had it not been for the significant assistance of Fenton.
For his part in the robbery and for possession with intent to supply Fenton was given a 24month suspended sentence and a community order of 200 hours unpaid work.
Goodwillie, of Troutsdale Grove, Hull, was identified as the leader in the abhorrent crime and received five years and 11 months’ imprisonment for his part in the robbery and for possession of a bladed weapon in September this year.
The court was told that the 85-year-old victim at the time had been walking along Cottingham Road at 7.45pm in the evening.
CCTV, shown to Judge John Thackray, showed a moped passing her in the direction of Beverley Road before turning around, mounting the pavement and knocking her to the ground.
She was unable to recall how many people had been on the moped and did not notice that her handbag had been stolen until she was helped to her feet by a member of the public.
The contents of the handbag were mainly personal items, including keys with addresses written on tags, a silver medal on a string and a bottle of holy water.
All of these were returned when the bag was later found dis
You drove into her on a moped and rammed her to the ground. Such an action could have caused serious injury, if not a fatality
Judge Thackray
carded by those who had taken it.
Fenton was identified as the rider of the moped seen on CCTV and upon his arrest, 30 bags of cannabis with a street value of around £535 were found at his address alongside drugs paraphernalia.
There was evidence on mobile phones also found at the address that Fenton was facing significant pressure from people who claimed he owed them money, sent as messages on the day of the robbery.
Prosecutor Ms Jessica Strange described the delays the case had faced due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Ms Strange told the court that after pleading guilty to both the charge of robbery and possession with intent to supply, Fenton had already indicated that he was willing to assist police in locating the driver of the moped.
Goodwillie was described to the court as someone with a number of previous convictions ranging from drug offences to battery and criminal damage.
Defence barrister Steven Garth told the court that Goodwillie had suffered a “wretched upbringing” and said he had been on medication for unconfirmed schizophrenia and paranoia for a number of years.
Mr Garth also confirmed that Goodwillie had experienced problems with Class A drug addiction since the age of just 13.
The court was told that shortly before the robbery, Goodwillie had taken crack cocaine.
Describing the robbery, Mr Garth said: “It was a wicked act on his part and a terrible ordeal for the elderly victim.”
Judge Thackray agreed, telling Goodwillie: “Your carefully chosen victim was an 85-year-old lady walking on her own at night, among the most vulnerable people in our society.
“You drove into her on a moped and rammed her to the ground. Such an action could have caused serious injury, if not a fatality.
“I have not the first trouble in identifying you as the lead in this enterprise being the older man at the time of the offence and exerting considerable influence on you co-defendant.”
Goodwillie was sentenced to 63 months’ imprisonment for his part in the robbery and a further eight months for possession of a bladed weapon in a public place, which occurred in September this year, meaning a total sentence of five years and 11 months.
Fenton was given to opportunity to speak in court to express his regret for his part in the robbery, which was accepted as genuine by the judge.
Defence barrister David Godfrey said that since the time of the offence, Fenton had turned his life around, gaining employment and a partner and committing no further crimes.
Judge Thackray recognised that without Fenton’s help, Goodwillie would have escaped justice and that the information had been given at great personal risk, with Fenton confirming he had received indirect personal threats.
He said: “By any standard you have had the most difficult start in life. You were just 19 years of age at the time of the robbery and were significantly influenced by your older co-defendant.
“I do accept that you are genuinely remorseful and that, over the past two years, you have managed to turn your life around and find work.”
When passing his sentence, Judge Thackray told Fenton: “You should consider yourself extremely lucky.”
Fenton was given a 24-month suspended sentence for his part in the robbery with a community order of 200 hours unpaid work and 20 days on a rehabilitation course.