Jailed: thug who preyed on elderly

TWO years . . . Collinge

A ROBBER who targeted elderly women because he knew they wouldn’t fight back has been jailed for two years.

Scott Collinge (23) grappled with the women for their belongings in order to fund a drug habit, Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, heard on Friday.

Collinge, of no fixed abode, robbed a 90-year-old woman of her handbag as she left a supermarket on New Year’s Day. Four days later, he stole a woman’s shopping from her after she told him she had no money.

Collinge pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery and asked for four other offences to be taken into account.

Steven Wild, prosecuting, said: “The first incident happened at 2.05pm on January 1 when a 90-year-old woman was walking across the car park of Asda in Chadderton when the defendant approached her from behind, grabbed her and spun her around causing her to be disorientated.

“He grabbed her handbag and tried to pull it from her. There was a struggle before the defendant pulled the bag from her and ran off.

“The second incident was on January 4 at 1.20pm when an 83-year-old woman had left the same Asda store.

“She was walking down a near-by street when she was confronted. He demanded money but she told him she didn’t have any — so he demanded she hand over her shopping bag.

“He grabbed hold of that and then ran off.

“He was arrested the following day. In interview, Collinge said that he had targeted the victims because they were elderly and vulnerable and he needed to fund his drug habit.”

Jon Gregg, defending, said: “I concede that these were mean, despicable offences. The targeting of elderly ladies is rightly condemned by the court.

“But once the drugs took over, he turned to crime.

“Since his arrest, he has undergone detoxification and he is extremely grateful for that.

“He is a remorseful young man.”

Judge Mushtaq Khokhar said: “Prior to this, there is only one conviction recorded against you and that was for a minor offence of shoplifting. I accept that until that conviction you hadn’t been in trouble with the police at all.

“And I accept that is was as a result of an addiction to drugs that you came to commit these offences.

“It is quite clear that you specifically targeted elderly ladies so in terms of restraint there wouldn’t be be very much you would have to put up with in carrying out this offence.

“Your counsel described this offence as mean and despicable and I would also add that they are cowardly offences given the ages of your victims.”