Broke bag snatch victim’s finger
A drug addict who viciously snatched a woman’s handbag and broke her finger has been jailed.
Thug Victor Wright admitted assaulting Hazel Thom and grabbing hold of her bag causing her finger to be dislocated and robbing her of a quantity of money and an electronic tablet in Crosshill Street, Motherwell, on September 7.
Dad- of- two Wright’s solicitor Diarmid Bruce told Sheriff David Bicket that his client was addicted to heroin and Valium and had stole Miss Thom’s handbag to feed his habit.
The court heard how Miss Thom was walking to work at around 6.30am when Wright, 22, approached her from behind and attempted to grab her bag.
Terrified Miss Thom managed to hold onto the bag with her left hand but Wright then used force, snatched it from her , injured her finger and ran off.
Desperate to get her possessions back, Miss Thom started to chase Wright down the street and alerted passers by to what had happened.
Others got involved and Wright was eventually caught and restrained.
He was heard saying: “I know I’ve stolen her bag but let me go.”
The police were called and Wright was arrested. He told officers he never meant to grab the victim’s bag.
Miss Thom was taken to Wishaw General where she underwent a procedure to have her finger reset.
Mr Bruce said Wright was deeply disappointed and disgusted in himself for what he had done.
He said he his client was a very pleasant man when sober and was sorry for the inconvenience he had caused the victim.
Sheriff Bicket said the incident was a terrifying ordeal for the victim.
He then sentenced Wright to 18 months behind bars.