Knife wielding Darlaston bag snatcher jailed for six years

Stephen Allen was trying to kick the habit but arrived too late to collect his prescription for Methadone, which reduces the withdrawal symptoms from heroin and other narcotic drugs.

The 42-year-old reached the shop at Bentley in Walsall minutes after its closing time and staff, who were locking up for the night, declined to serve him, Mr John Brotherton, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Less than half an hour later Allen crashed into the rear of a car in which two women, aged 81 and 67, were travelling along Park Lane, Darlaston, to play bingo on March 7.

As the younger person, who was driving, got out of the car, Allen feigned illness, the jury heard.

He was clutching at his chest as if in pain but one of the women saw through the ruse and urged the other to call the police.

When the defendant realised what was going on he pulled out a knife and threatened both women.

He pressed the blade against the stomach area of the 81-year-old, who was still sitting in the vehicle, and snatched her handbag.

Allen also put the knife to the neck of the 67-year-old and warned he would cut her throat if she did not do what he asked.

Witnesses were able to give police a partial registration number of the vehicle in which Allen fled from the scene. It was identified as belonging to the defendant, who had 44 previous convictions involving 182 separate offences.

Allen, from Stag Hill Road, Walsall, pleaded not guilty to robbery and attempted robbery but was unanimously convicted of both offences by a jury following a trial.

Judge Amjad Nawaz told him: “When you reached their car you produced a knife, put the blade close to the 67-year-old woman and threatened to cut her throat. She said ‘go ahead’ but thankfully you did not.

“There was no physical injury but there has been psychological harm.”