Man jailed for robbing woman, 81, outside shop

Paul McNeill admitted robbery

A robber who pushed an 81-year-old woman to the floor while stealing her bag has been jailed for four years and 10 months.

Paul McNeill targeted the woman as she waited outside a shop for newspapers to be delivered, Newcastle Crown Court heard. Her bank cards were later used to buy cigarettes and scratch cards.

The woman, who struck her head on the pavement during the robbery, said she was now afraid to leave her home.

McNeill, a 42-year-old drug addict from Byker with more than 100 offences on his criminal record, admitted robbery.

'Frightened in the dark'

The woman was waiting for newspapers to be delivered to a Tesco Express in Shieldfield, Newcastle, at about 07:15 BST on 6 December 2022, prosecutor Susan Hirst said.

The elderly woman, who is hard of hearing, was resting against a wall at the entrance to an alleyway when she felt someone tagging at her large shopping bag from behind.

She was pulled to the floor and struck her head against the pavement.

Meanwhile the robber, who was later identified by police from CCTV, fled with the bag which contained personal items including the woman's purse, £90 in cash, Christmas cards and her house keys.

McNeill was then seen entering a block of flats with the bag and the woman's bank card was used later that day by someone else to buy cigarettes and scratch cards valued at £33.

There were two other attempts to use her bank card that night but both were declined by the bank, Ms Hirst said.

In a statement read to the court, the woman said she now felt frightened in the dark and was scared to leave her home.

'Psychological harm'

The court heard McNeill, who lived in a hostel on Wilfred Street, had been a drug addict since his domestic abuse-riddled childhood and had 60 convictions for 113 offences, mostly dishonesty.

The day before robbing the woman, he had been given a conditional discharge at court for a burglary, the court heard.

In mitigation, Rachel Hedworth said McNeill was "sickened" by his actions and "completely and utterly ashamed" about the impact the crime had had on the woman.

Judge Penelope Moreland said McNeill targeted the woman because she was an "older lady" who was alone.

The judge said the woman had previously been active and outgoing but the impact "on her final years" was "incalculable".

She added that the robbery had caused her "serious psychological harm."