ROBBER WHO TARGETED PENSIONER IS JAILED
A thug who robbed an elderly woman in the street has been jailed.Paul McNeill targeted an 81-year-old woman while she was standing outside a shop on Stoddart Street in the Shieldfield area of Newcastle on the morning of December 6, 2022.
She was waiting for newspaper deliveries when the incident occurred.
Approaching from behind, McNeill, aged 43, seized her shopping bag.
As she clung to the bag, she lost her footing and fell, hitting her head on the pavement.
He then ran off with the bag, which contained some cash, clothing belonging to her sister, and a Christmas card with money inside.
Despite suffering no major physical injuries, the elderly woman was left terrified and reluctant to leave her home after the attack.
Following the report, Northumbria Police began an investigation, releasing a CCTV image of McNeill to the public.
McNeill has more than 100 previous convictions for various crimes.
Recognising him from the image, an officer who previously dealt with him identified him and he was quickly detained.
McNeill, who resides on Wilfred Street in the Byker area, admitted to the robbery.
On Tuesday at Newcastle Crown Court, he was sentenced to nearly five years in prison.
