Robber pounced on 82-year-old woman on her doorstep

Stephen Padley targeted the 82-year-old woman as she went in to her home in Outwood.

Padley pounced on his victim, who uses a stick to help walk, at around 10.30am on August 9 this year.

The brave pensioner tried to fight back but was pushed to the floor and she started to scream.

Padley emptied her pockets and stole £28 in cash and her purse, which included a picture of her deceased daughter Leeds Crown Court was told.

The victim suffered bruising to her chest, shoulders, arms and hip.

Padley, 31, of Saville Street, Wakefield, was arrested after his fingerprints were found on a sweet wrapper in the victim’s shopping bag.

Prosecutor David Lampitt said: “He had been in the area looking for a house to burgle then saw the complainant going home and took the opportunity.”

In a victim statement read out in court, the pensioner said the harrowing incident had reduced her to a nervous wreck.

The court heard Padley had multiple previous convictions for burglary and robbed an 84-year-old man in his home back in 2010.

Keith Whitehouse, mitigating, said Padley was ashamed and recognised it was an appalling attack on a senior citizen.

Padley, who is already serving a prison sentence for burglary, pleaded guilty to robbery at an earlier hearing.

He was sentenced to four years and four months to run consecutively with the three years and four months sentence he is currently serving.

Jailing him, Recorder Abdul Iqbal QC said: “You are a thoroughly dishonest and violent man and this is a despicable offence.

“The victim has suffered life long trauma because of a prolific burglar like you.”

Det Insp Paul Harrison, said: “The notion that an 83-year-old woman could be assaulted on her own doorstep will quite rightly still shock many.

“I am pleased that Padley has now been sentenced for what was a completely cowardly and frankly abhorrent offence.

“This assault has had a dreadful effect on the victim’s quality of life, robbing a formerly confident and steadfast woman her of self-confidence and independence.

“I hope she may take some shreds of comfort from seeing justice done and seeing this vile individual off our streets and in prison where he belongs.”