Purse thief stole from elderly bus passengers

A Polish thief who carried a knife on buses in the Black Country, slashing handbags to steal purses from the elderly, was today starting a jail sentence of more than three years.

Adam Gawron targeted elderly and vulnerable people who relied most on public transport during his five month "campaign of theft" in West Bromwich, Wolverhampton Crown Court heard. Nearly all of his victims were pensioners. Many were in their 70s or 80s, while one was aged 98. They were left shaken and angered by the thefts, the court heard.

Gawron preyed on bus passengers, covering his hands with his coat while he slashed women's bags with a knife to steal their purses.

On three occasions, the 35-year-old then used their bank cards to withdraw sums of money ranging from £30 to £800.

Yesterday, Gawron pleaded guilty to three counts of fraud, one count of attempted theft and five counts of theft. He also asked Judge Martin Walsh to take 10 other similar thefts into consideration.

The thefts all occurred between February and June this year. His youngest victims were 17 and 46-years-old, while the rest were all aged over 60.

On June 8, Gawron tried to pickpocket the wallet of an 80-year-old man who had stood up to let someone else have his seat on the bus. But other passengers noticed and raised the alarm, detaining father-of-two Gawron until police came and arrested him.

A statement was read out in court from one of Gawron's victims, a 72-year-old lady. She said: "This left me feeling sick. It's not the money, it's the principle. That these young people who are more than capable of working would prey on vulnerable people like me is despicable."

Gawron was sentenced to 40 months in prison for each of the thefts and the attempted theft. He will also serve six months for each case of fraud, set to run concurrently. In mitigation, Mr Tarlowchan Dubb, defending, said Gawron had been trying to fund an alcohol addiction.