ROBBER PULLED TERRIFIED WOMAN, 67, FROM HER CAR

35-YEAR-OLD DROVE OFF AND CRASHED AFTER 'RIDICULOUSLY DANGEROUS MANOEUVRE'

- By DAVID POWELL

A WOMAN was dragged from her car by a robber as she parked up to visit her husband in hospital.

Benjamin Griffiths then drove off in the vehicle, before crashing into a Tesco delivery van.

A judge yesterday branded his driving “ridiculously dangerous”. He jailed Griffiths, 35, of Rhos, Wrexham, for 44 months for robbery.

Prosecutor Emmalyne Downing told Mold Crown Court a 67-year-old woman was visiting her husband at the Heddfan hospital unit in Wrexham on May 13.

She was parking her red Citroen C3 car at about 2.15pm when the defendant approached. He shouted “give me your keys” the court heard. The woman, in her driver's seat, refused, thinking he was joking.

But Griffiths shouted again and she refused again. Griffiths reached in, took the keys and grabbed her by the arm and got her out of the car.

She was shocked and terrified, the court heard. She saw someone coming from recep-

tion and started shouting that someone was taking her car, said Ms Downing.