A Burnley drug addict violently robbed one of her former carers of around £3 whilst she was in the grips of her addiction.
Rebecca Oxley, 49, approached Ann Chippendale in Parliament Street, Burnley, on December 10 as Ms Chippendale left the Parliament Street News newsagents at the top of the road.
Ms Chippendale, 78, recognised Oxley, who was with two other people, as she had previously cared for her at Burnley General Hospital during one of Oxley’s stays in the psychiatric ward.
Stephen Parker, prosecuting at Preston Crown Court, said elderly Ms Chippendale, who walks using a frame, tried to walk away from the group but heard Oxley shout after her, saying, ‘give me your bag, I’ve got a knife'.
Oxley repeatedly shouted at Ms Chippendale to hand over her bag, though she said she was not carrying one.
Oxley then punched her in the face and grabbed Ms Chippendale’s jacket, attempting to root around in the pockets.
While this was going on, Ms Chippendale’s frame rolled down the road away from her as she had been unable to hold onto it during the assault.
Due to Oxley’s violent pulling at Ms Chippendale’s jacket, the victim ended up being dragged into the road at which point some coins, totalling around £3, fell onto the floor.
READ MORE: Prolific thief pleads guilty to robbery in Burnley
A member of the public soon came over and helped Ms Chippendale up while Oxley and the other members of the group walked away.
Ms Chippendale reported the incident to the police and, the following day, Oxley handed herself in at Burnley police station, making full admissions when interviewed.
She accepted everything Ms Chippendale told the police and said she had actively targeted her in the hopes of acquiring money to spend on drugs.
Oxley, of no fixed abode but previously of Smith Street, Nelson, and Thorn Street, Burnley, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery at a hearing in January.
She was due to be sentenced in April but failed to attend the court hearing, leading to it being adjourned.
James Heyworth, mitigating, said Oxley has “significant mental health difficulties and a significant history of misusing class A drugs.”
She accepted that at the time of the incident, she had not been taking her medication and hadn’t been doing so for quite some time.
Mr Heyworth said: “She acknowledges her use of drugs has blighted her life and made management of her mental health problems all the more difficult, not only for her but for those who have tried to help her.”
Judge Graham Knowles, sentencing, said: “You robbed a woman aged 78 as she struggled along with her walking frame.
"You got £3, or thereabouts. You knew she was vulnerable. You knew exactly who she was.
“You have a long record and on that long record, you have other very unpleasant offences against vulnerable, elderly people.
“On the positive side of things, you knew the police wanted you and you went to hand yourself in. It’s extremely rare these days.
"You didn’t go 'no comment' in interview, you admitted everything you had done, including that you targeted her and you did it for money for drugs.
“To be frank, I didn’t think you’d be here today, but you are. I am able to set eyes upon you, not just deal with it as another bit of paper I have to read.”
Oxley was sentenced to four years in prison.
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