Drug addict who robbed OAPs is jailed

A DRUG addict with a £90-a-day heroin habit who robbed three pensioners has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

On one occasion Christian Ashford targeted a 90-year-old woman in Carlton Road, Lowestoft, as she was walking home after collecting her pension, Ipswich Crown Court heard yesterday .

Ashford had pushed her, causing her to fall to the ground, and after a struggle, during which the woman desperately tried to hang onto her bag, he made off with her purse containing £143.

As a result of the attack last month , the woman received a cut over her eye and bruising and had been deeply affected by what had happened, said Peter Gair, prosecuting.

The second robbery, also in Lowestoft last month, happened as a 66-year-old woman walked her dog. Ashford had reached over the woman's shoulder from behind and pulled her towards him.

He had then reached down to get the purse she was holding in her hand and after a struggle he made off with the purse which contained £70.

Two days later an 82-year-old woman was letting herself into her Lowestoft home after collecting her £243 pension when she was pushed from behind.

When she looked down she realised that her bag containing her money had been stolen, said Mr Gair.

Ashford, 32, of London Road South, Lowestoft, admitted three offences of robbery and asked for five offences to be considered.

Passing sentence, Judge John Devaux said that in his desperation to get money for drugs Ashford had targeted elderly women to rob.

“They were very distressed by what happened to them,” said the Judge.

The court heard that after his arrest Ashford had admitted being responsible for the robberies.

Joanne Ely, for Ashford, said he had been extremely co-operative with the police. At the time of the offences he had a £90-a-day heroin habit. He had been a heroin user for 17 years but had now weaned himself off the drug. She said he was ashamed of what he had done to his elderly victims.