A DRUG addict who picked on an 81-year-old woman and snatched her handbag, has started a two year jail term.

Paul Almond, 25, approached his victim down a 'back alley' and chose her because she was vulnerable, Burnley Crown Court heard.

Sentencing Almond, Recorder Anthony Edwards said anybody who targeted old ladies should expect a severe prison sentence.

He added although the victim was not physically injured, she was clearly distressed.

Almond, of Scotland Bank Terrace, Blackburn, who came out of prison in May, had been convicted of theft after a trial.

He had admitted possessing heroin, handling stolen goods and breaching bail and was committed for sentence on some allegations, by Hyndburn magistrates. The court was told that Almond and another person took a stolen lap top computer into a second-hand shop. The owner put it on and realised where it had come from. Two police officers were in the shop at the time, making other inquiries and Almond claimed he had bought it for £20 at 5.15pm the previous night - but it had not been stolen until later in the day.

Richard Bennett, defending, said Almond had an unenviable record for a man of his age. Many of his previous offences were related to his one-time heroin addiction, which was not put forward as an excuse, but an explanation. Almond had not committed any further offences since coming out of jail and had not gone back to heroin. The defendant had been reunited with his parents who were people of good character and would not countenance criminality in their son. That was one reason why he was no longer at home.

Mr Bennett added Almond realised if he did not stay free of drugs, he would go on a spiral downwards in terms of offending and periods in prison.

He was anxious to begin life afresh and urged the court to give him a last chance to get away from Blackburn and the influences there.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.