Man who tried to rob women in cars jailed

Stuart Sanderson was jailed for four years after attempting to rob two women in Carlisle

A man has been jailed for four years for attempting to rob two different women as they sat alone in their cars.

Stuart Sanderson, 58, got into the women's vehicles while they were parked in Carlisle city centre on 4 June.

Carlisle Crown Court was told he was in the throes of a mental health crisis during the attempted robberies and wished to take a car and end his life.

But he was branded a "dangerous offender" by Recorder David O'Mahony who said Sanderson must serve at least two-thirds of his sentence in prison.

The court was told Sanderson, from Carlisle, got into his first victim's car while it was parked at the Halston Hotel car park at about 15:30 BST.

He covered his lower face and told the woman: "Don't say anything, you're coming with me."

However, the victim grabbed her keys, left the vehicle and managed to find help.

Broken bottle

Minutes later, Sanderson tried to push his way into a second woman's vehicle while she was at traffic lights on Botchergate, the prosecution said.

He attempted to sit on top of the woman and grab her keys but she also managed to escape with her belongings and alert a bystander.

Police located Sanderson nearby and found him in possession of a broken glass bottle neck.

He was initially charged with attempting to kidnap the women, but later admitted two alternative counts of attempted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon.

Speaking to Sanderson in court via video link, one of the victims said the attempted robbery would affect her for the rest of her life.

"You can get any sentence, but this will be a life sentence for me," she said

The court heard how Sanderson had just left hospital and intended to take a car and end his life after losing his job, relationship and home.

Recorder O'Mahony said there were a number of aspects of the case which were "tragic" and the adverse effect on the victims had been "significant".