Dudley man jailed for attempting to snatch woman's bag armed with a file

Heroin addict Ben Wilkes approached his 49-year-old victim and tried to snatch her bag but she bravely hung on in the face of threats that she would be stabbed with the weapon.

Judge Nicholas Webb said Wilkes, aged 28, grabbed her by the hair and also pulled her scarf tight around her neck before her cries for help were heard by two man in the Trindle Road area.

Wilkes, who has 48 previous convictions on his criminal record including robbery, wounding, assault and carrying weapons, then tried to flee from the scene.

But he was chased and apprehended by the two men who held onto him until the arrival of police officers, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard.

At the time of the offence Wilkes was on bail after he was charged with possessing a bladed article in an earlier incident, said Paul Farrow, prosecuting, He said Wilkes, of Bean Street, told the terrified woman he had a knife as he made a grab for the bag before producing the file which was of the type used for sharpening knives.

After his arrest he told officers he needed drugs and he saw the opportunity to pocket money when he spotted the vulnerable woman walking alone.

Wilkes, who admitted attempted robbery and possessing an offensive weapon, had been addicted to heroin since he was just 13 years of age, said Timothy Talbot-Webb, defending.

He had also been taking medication, Mr Talbot-Webb told the court, and he accepted he became short tempered and impulsive if he did not take his regular dose.

Now, after being held in custody since his arrest, he was off heroin.

“He accepted he wants help on his release if he is to maintain a calmer and safer approach to life,” said Mr Talbot-Webb.

Judge Webb told Wilkes he was satisfied he posed a high risk of future harm to members of the public and jailed him for four years four months.

He ruled that Wilkes’ licence on his release from custody should be increased by a further four years to help stop him from committing further crimes.