Bystanders gave chase to help police catch drug addict bag-snatcher

A RELAPSED drug addict who snatched a charity shop worker’s handbag in a street robbery was chased down and caught by bystanders, a court heard.

James Cunningham (39), of Burton Road, Christchurch, approached 66-year-old victim Laurence West in Boscombe on 13th May last year and “wrestled” her handbag from her, prosecutor Stuart Ellacott told Bournemouth Crown Court.

“Cunningham did this with sufficient force that it caused her to spin round and fall to the floor, landing on her hands and knees," he said.

“She shouted, ‘Thief!’, and other members of the public gave chase and detained the defendant until police arrived.”

In a statement read to the court, Ms West said the incident had a “great deal of impact on her day-to-day life” as she was now anxious around young men and still experienced pain because she chipped a bone in her ankle during the robbery.

While on bail for that offence, Cunningham targeted the Christchurch Aldi store on 5th November. He prowled the aisles, Mr Ellacott said, before grabbing at an open till manned by a female cashier and escaping with £175.

The defendant had pleaded guilty to robbery and theft. His record was “typical” of a drug addict prior to 2014 – when he was jailed for 27 months after committing a robbery, the court heard.

That offence involved him grabbing cash from a till, but judge Stephen Climie noted that since his release from prison Cunningham had kept out of trouble until committing the latest offences.

He questioned why Cunningham had started offending again and defence barrister, Kevin Hill, explained his client had relapsed but was actively engaging with drug rehabilitation agencies.

Mr Hill pleaded for his client to be given a chance to demonstrate his commitment to getting off drugs, acknowledging that while it was “unusual” for someone to walk free for robbery, the crime was not at the most serious end of the scale.

Judge Climie agreed, but issued a series of stern warnings to Cunningham.

“I want you to get the money you would spend on drugs and alcohol from your benefits and start saving it [for the victims] over these four months,” he said.

“Turn up to the next hearing penniless and you will be going to prison.”

He added: “As you said both to the police and to the probation officer, your actions were disgraceful and wholly unjustified, and I’m quite satisfied, terrifying for the two women involved.”

Judge Climie also said he wanted the defendant to demonstrate to him he was off drugs, reducing his methadone prescriptive intake and engaging with services offering help the next time he saw him. He deferred sentencing until 4th May.