2015: WOMAN JAILED FOR ROBBING DISABLED PENSIONER AFTER TIPPING HER OUT OF HER WHEELCHAIR
A 23-year-old woman has been jailed for four years and three months after a court heard she tipped a disabled pensioner out of her wheelchair and robbed her of just £20 in Worcester.The judge described it as a “wicked” act by Tanya Frankum, who had agreed to push 67-year-old Patricia Haskins home from the city centre.
Frankum, admitted robbing Miss Haskins of her handbag and purse and appeared for sentencing via a video link from Eastwood Park prison in Gloucestershire.
Judge Michael Cullum sentenced Frankum to three years nine months for the robbery, with a further six months to run consecutively for an assault on a woman at a hostel in Worcester, for which she had previously been given a community order.
Jason Aris, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court that Miss Haskins, who relied on a wheelchair and had a developmental disability, was alone in the city centre at about 10.15pm on August 26 last year and asked Frankum, whom she knew, to push her home.
But Frankum, who had a man with her, took the pensioner down by the river, close to the cathedral, which was in the opposite direction to her victim’s home.
“Before she could get her bearings, this defendant tipped Miss Haskins on to the ground and took her handbag and her purse, which was attached to Miss Haskins’ belt,” said Mr Aris.
He added that there was nothing of value in the handbag but the purse contained £20.
Miss Haskins, who was discovered by a member of the public, suffered injuries to her knees, which caused discomfort.
Mr Aris said that, at first, Frankum claimed that the man she was with had robbed Miss Haskins and that she had gone to help Miss Haskins.
The man present at the incident was never charged and has since died, the court heard.
Brendan Reedy, defending, said it had been a “nasty and mean” offence to tip someone out of a wheelchair.
But Frankum had found herself “back on the streets”, in an emotional and vulnerable state because her baby was taken away by social services after being born in Oswestry and she had split with her boyfriend.
Her mother had moved to live on the streets in Worcester and invited Frankum to join her there.
Mr Reedy said Frankum’s baby had been adopted on Monday this week and it had been a “traumatic” time for her.
Judge Cullum told Frankum it was the 14th set of convictions against her.
He said Miss Haskins had placed trust in Frankum to get her home.
“But you deliberately took her the wrong way and, in an absolutely shameful act, tipped that woman out of her wheelchair, robbed her then left her helpless.
That was a wicked act.” The judge added that he knew there had been trauma in the life of Frankum, of Brockworth Road, Kings Norton, Birmingham, who had also had a child taken from her into care at the age of 16, but there was “no excuse for such a callous act.” The effect of that “vile” abuse was bound to affect the independence of her victim, added the judge.
After the hearing, a spokesman from West Mercia Police said, "We are pleased with the result from the Crown Court in this unprovoked crime which was carried out against a vulnerable and defenceless member of the community.
"PC 3708 Harris completed a thorough and diligent investigation to support the vulnerable victim and ensure a positive result in this callous crime.
This is the second significant custodial sentence in as many months handed out by the Crown Court from investigations carried out by the Worcester City and Cathedral Safer Neighbourhood Teams.
"This should serve as a reminder of the tenaciousness and commitment of West Mercia Police to the Local community and another timely reminder to any persons who seek to behave in a way that seek to cause harm to the community."
