A dog walker tried to steal a woman’s handbag before attempting to grab a girl’s phone minutes later.
Paul Couldwell struck twice in a short space of time on a Friday morning, but left empty handed. He has now been locked up for two years.
In a statement, Lancashire Police said: “At around 7.57am on Friday 10th May last year, Couldwell was walking a dog on King Street and came behind the woman. He made a grab for her handbag, but she held on to it while Couldwell’s dog – by now off the leash – was running round her.
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“Couldwell and the dog ran off towards Asda, with members of the public coming to the woman’s assistance. Shortly afterwards, around 8.05am, a girl was walking on Queens Road West, looking at her mobile phone.
“Couldwell, again walking his dog, went past her before trying to grab the phone out of her hand. The girl bravely clung on to the phone, screamed, and Couldwell ran off.”
Couldwell, of Meadoway, Church, Accrington, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery after trying to steal the woman’s handbag, and attempted theft in relation to the girl’s phone. He was sentenced at Preston Crown Court today (Jan 10).
After the hearing, Detective Constable Vicky Heys, of Lancashire Police, said: “Paul Couldwell targeted two victims – one them a child – in a matter of minutes in Accrington and tried to steal from them. Both victims were walking alone and Couldwell targeted them.
“They were terrified. I welcome the prison sentence imposed by the judge, it sends the message that offences like this will not be tolerated.”