DRUG ADDICT WHO LAUGHED AS SHE ROBBED VULNERABLE OLD MAN JAILED FOR PUBLIC PROTECTION
A 46-year-old woman who repeatedly robbed a confused and vulnerable pensioner has been sentenced to six years in prison after a judge emphasized the importance of protecting the public from her crimes.Bradford Crown Court was told that the victim, a 73-year-old man, was robbed in his own Halifax flat and at Woods' residence, suffering heart palpitations and black-outs during some of the offences.
Judge Jonathan Rose stated that Woods, who was still on prison license for attempting to smuggle Class A drugs into New Hall Prison while visiting her long-term partner, pushed and grabbed the complainant before taking hundreds of pounds from his wallet on five different occasions.
Woods pleaded guilty to the robbery charges covering December 2018 to February of this year, during which she stole just over £2000.
Prosecutor Phillip Standfast described how the crime was uncovered after bank staff noticed the elderly man's unusual behavior when he attended a Halifax branch, claiming he was waiting to meet a woman owed him money.
The man, in a highly confused state, described being 'roughed up' and said the woman had taken 'thousands' from him.
During police investigation, the victim recounted struggling with Woods over his wallet at her home and reported suffering black-outs; he also remembered waking up from a blackout while Woods laughed at him, during which she stole about £300.
Woods, who has prior convictions dating back to 1990 and formerly resided in Rastrick, was described by her lawyer Taryn Turner as having a history of alcohol and drug abuse due to a difficult childhood, with her expressing remorse for her actions.
However, Judge Rose rejected any notion of remorse, stating that her words were insincere, especially when considering her recent living arrangements in Halifax.
The judge asserted, “The time has come when the public will be protected,” noting that Woods, being younger, fitter, and stronger than her victim, used her power to exploit the elderly man, even though no extreme violence was used.
He emphasized that her actions were unnecessary and that she had no right to intrude into the lives of vulnerable elderly people and steal their hard-earned money.
