Three years jail for Black Country handbag mugger who broke woman's fingers
A robber, who broke and dislocated the fingers of a 57-year-old woman while wrenching a bag from her grasp, has been jailed for more than three years.
Divinder Bhadesh struck while the victim was waiting for a taxi in Market Place, Wednesbury at 5.30pm on October 14, a judge heard.
The 23-year-old walked passed her before coming to a halt and lighting a cigarette a short distance away, Wolverhampton Crown court was told.
When she was not looking the defendant slowly moved towards the woman until he was close enough to snatch the bag slung over her left shoulder, said Mr John Evans, prosecuting.
He continued: "He tried to pull it away but she resisted and was pushed into a wall and road sign, after which she let go as she fell to the ground.
"The bag held her debit card, house keys and £40 cash. Fortunately her mobile phone was in her pocket so she could ring her daughter."
The woman was taken to hospital where it was discovered one finger on her left hand was broken while another had been dislocated.
Bhadesh was arrested two days later when he was spotted by a police officer in West Bromwich after his picture was released with an appeal to the public.
He maintained he had staged the robbery because he needed money to correct a medical problem he had with a toe, it was said.
Mr Ian Windridge, representing the defendant who had 22 previous convictions involving 44 separate offences, stressed: "He had not intended to injure her."
Most of the previous convictions were for shoplifting and thefts of that kind.
Bhadesh from Chester Road, West Bromwich, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for three years and four months by Judge Martin Jackson.
Pc Adam Harris, from the West Bromwich Neighbourhood police team, said after the case: "This was a particularly nasty robbery in a busy area simply for a handbag that has left a woman needing further surgery to her fingers nearly a month on.
"The woman has been left traumatised because of this and it is unfair that other people could be put off from simply going about their business in the town centre alone.
"I’d like to thank all the eagle-eyed members of the community who contacted us to either give us a name or information on the area the man frequented.
"Ultimately, the quick-time release of his image and people’s willingness to help the police has ensured that this man is behind bars."
