A pensioner was robbed of cash in broad daylight after sitting down on a Newcastle street for a rest after feeling unwell.
The 66-year-old had just withdrawn some money from a cash machine and had some of it in her hand as she was about to buy some dog food and other household items. Anthony Jenkinson was walking past but after spotting her, he changed direction and went to sit next to her on a bench.
He then suddenly grabbed at her money and despite her brave attempts to fend him off by trying to bite his arm, he stole £40 and made off. Now Jenkinson, whose long list of previous convictions include burgling an 82-year-old, has been jailed.
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Newcastle Crown Court heard it was around 11am on July 21 last year that the victim was on Shields Road, Byker, Newcastle, and she withdrew £200 from a Lloyds Bank cashpoint. She put most of the money in her purse but kept three £20 notes in her hand.
She went to sit on a bench nearby, close to the swimming pool, for a rest as it was hot and she felt unwell. Within a few minutes, Jenkinson sat on the bench beside the victim and asked if she could give him a fiver.
Omar Ahmad, prosecuting, said: "She said not as she needed the money for dog food and other items. All of a sudden he grabbed at the money she had in her hand.
"She held on tightly but he managed to get two of the £20 notes. She tried to bite his arm but he pulled it away. He said 'you tried to bite us you daft cow.'" When she told him she was going to tell the police, he replied "go on then you stupid cow."
The woman was able to give a good description of the robber, including the fact he had a canular in his arm as he had recently been discharged from hospital. Police had dealt with him earlier that day over another allegation and had taken him to hospital and they were able to identify him from CCTV.
In a victim impact statement, the pensioner said: "This incident has had a big impact on my life and has left me shaken up even to this day. Due to what happened I no longer go to Shields Road on my own to go shopping and this was something I did regularly.
"I've even changed the bus route I use because driving past the scene brings it all back and makes me feel anxious and distressed. The actions of Anthony Jenkinson have had a negative impact on my life and I wish this to be known."
Jenkinson, 36, of Cleadon Street, Walker, who has 155 previous convictions, including for a robbery in which he stole a woman's handbag and the burglary of an 82-year-old man, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for two years and eight months.
Jonathan Pigford, defending, said the offence was not planned and Jenkinson himself told the court: "I'm very sorry. I slipped back into drug use and I'm so sorry for the woman and her loss. I'm ashamed."
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