Teenager locked up for manslaughter after attempted bag snatch led to pensioner's death
A teenager has been locked up for manslaughter after a pensioner he targeted in a violent bag snatch in Birmingham died within days of her ordeal.
The 72-year-old woman was dragged to the ground as her attacker tried to grab her handbag in Petersfield Road, in Hall Green, on February 5.
The teenager, who was 15 at the time, fled the scene empty-handed in a nearby waiting car.
The pensioner was treated at hospital for a dislocated shoulder. Her health deteriorated and she was re-admitted to hospital on February 15, but sadly died the next day.
Police enquiries led to the arrest of the teenager from an address in Birmingham four days later, with detectives also able to link him to a robbery just hours before the one in Hall Green.
Snatched
A 57-year-old woman had been on her way home when she was approached by a man who snatched her handbag and made off in a waiting vehicle.
The boy, who is now aged 16 and can't be named for legal reasons, was convicted of manslaughter, attempted robbery and robbery following a trial.
He was sentenced to six-and-a-half years at a youth offender's institution at Birmingham Crown Court on Friday.
Detective Sergeant Simon Hanlon, from West Midland Police's force CID, said: "A woman sadly died following her traumatic ordeal and our desire to get justice for her family has been at the front of our thoughts throughout this investigation.
"After arresting the boy we recovered clothing from the address which matched that being worn by the robber in both attacks.
"We believe he was part of a wider team and was driven to parts of Birmingham to find vulnerable targets.
"This has proven a tragic case. A young boy has become embroiled in crime and has the death of an innocent pensioner on his conscience while a family continue to grieve a lost loved one."
