Man who stole purse from 90-year-old woman avoids prison again

A FORMER businessman who callously “targeted” a 90-year-old woman for a cruel street robbery has narrowly avoided prison again after breaching a suspended sentence by committing more offences.

- By MARK NAYLOR

Richard Spencer hastily ran off after a nasty confrontation when he stole her purse from her trolley just minutes after she had finished shopping. The brazen robbery, including taking the purse, containing £70 cash, left the elderly victim feeling shocked and uneasy and it had knocked her confidence, Hull Crown Court heard.

Spencer, 46, of Newington Street, west Hull, admitted breaching a 19-month suspended prison sentence imposed on April 26 last year for robbery of the woman on October 7, 2023. He admitted two new offences of shop theft on March 10 this year.

The court was told that the 90-year-old woman suffered from chronic leukaemia. She left her home at about 1pm and went to the Co-operative store in Hessle Square, where she did her food shopping.

She walked towards Swinegate through a small alleyway leading away from the store and she had a collapsible fabric trolley with her.

At about 2.15pm, she was approached by a man whom she did not recognise and he asked her: “Can you tell me where The Weir is?” She gave him directions.