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| Jail term for failed OAP mugger | Jail term for failed OAP mugger |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A mugger who failed in his bid to rob a determined 81-year-old woman of her handbag in Renfrewshire has been jailed for five years and four months. | A mugger who failed in his bid to rob a determined 81-year-old woman of her handbag in Renfrewshire has been jailed for five years and four months. |
| Patrick Wallace admitted the attack on Margaret Somerville at Paisley Canal Street railway station in July 2008. | Patrick Wallace admitted the attack on Margaret Somerville at Paisley Canal Street railway station in July 2008. |
| The High Court in Aberdeen heard how the pensioner hung on to her bag despite being dragged along the ground. | The High Court in Aberdeen heard how the pensioner hung on to her bag despite being dragged along the ground. |
| Judge Lord Bracadale also told 32-year-old Wallace that he would be monitored for three years on his release. | Judge Lord Bracadale also told 32-year-old Wallace that he would be monitored for three years on his release. |
| The court heard Wallace, whose address was given as Greenock Prison, tried to grab hold of Mrs Somerville's handbag from behind. | The court heard Wallace, whose address was given as Greenock Prison, tried to grab hold of Mrs Somerville's handbag from behind. |
| But she held on tight and struck Wallace on the side of her head with her right arm. The fact you tried to rob a woman of her handbag was bad enough but Mrs Somerville was aged 81 years, what you did was despicable Lord Bracadale | But she held on tight and struck Wallace on the side of her head with her right arm. The fact you tried to rob a woman of her handbag was bad enough but Mrs Somerville was aged 81 years, what you did was despicable Lord Bracadale |
| Wallace was knocked off and pulled the bag, and Mrs Somerville, to the ground. | Wallace was knocked off and pulled the bag, and Mrs Somerville, to the ground. |
| The pensioner started screaming and shouting at him as he dragged her along the ground. | The pensioner started screaming and shouting at him as he dragged her along the ground. |
| A passer-by, 48-year-old Thomas Williamson, came to Mrs Somerville's aid and helped her off the ground. | A passer-by, 48-year-old Thomas Williamson, came to Mrs Somerville's aid and helped her off the ground. |
| British Transport Police later arrested Wallace after he was identified from CCTV footage. | British Transport Police later arrested Wallace after he was identified from CCTV footage. |
| He was charged with assaulting Mrs Somerville, attempting to seize her handbag, struggling with her, pulling her to the ground and robbing her of a set of keys. | He was charged with assaulting Mrs Somerville, attempting to seize her handbag, struggling with her, pulling her to the ground and robbing her of a set of keys. |
| The court heard Wallace was on a methadone prescription at the time and was also taking heroin.Margaret Somerville refused to let go of her handbag | |
| He had described the attack as an "opportunist" act to try to get money for drugs. | He had described the attack as an "opportunist" act to try to get money for drugs. |
| Lord Bracadale gave an extended sentence of three years to protect the public because Wallace was at high risk of re-offending. | Lord Bracadale gave an extended sentence of three years to protect the public because Wallace was at high risk of re-offending. |
| Sentencing Wallace, he said: "Margaret Somerville was going to catch a train to Glasgow when she was attacked by you. | Sentencing Wallace, he said: "Margaret Somerville was going to catch a train to Glasgow when she was attacked by you. |
| "The fact you tried to rob a woman of her handbag was bad enough but Mrs Somerville was aged 81 years, what you did was despicable. | "The fact you tried to rob a woman of her handbag was bad enough but Mrs Somerville was aged 81 years, what you did was despicable. |
| "The case is made worse by your record - assault and robbery in 1999 for which you were sentenced to six years in prison and an offence relating to a weapon for which you were convicted 18 months in prison. | "The case is made worse by your record - assault and robbery in 1999 for which you were sentenced to six years in prison and an offence relating to a weapon for which you were convicted 18 months in prison. |
| "In your favour, you seem to have shown some remorse for what you did." | "In your favour, you seem to have shown some remorse for what you did." |