Woman 'terrified' in hometown after purse snatched
BBCA pensioner has been left "terrified" to walk around her hometown after her purse was snatched by a robber, a court has heard.
Peyman Afrasiyabipour, 27, was quickly apprehended by several residents after robbing the 69-year-old woman in South Shields in July, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
The woman, who was recovering from breast cancer, said "elderly people deserve the right to feel safe when walking the streets in broad daylight".
Afrasiyabipour was jailed for two years, suspended for two and a half years, after admitting robbery. A judge said it was a "pity" the asylum seeker from Iran had "repaid the generosity" of the UK by committing crime.
The woman was walking down Gainsborough Avenue at about 20:00 BST on 24 July when Afrasiyabipour approached from behind and grabbed her purse from her hand, prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said.
The robber also tried to take the woman's mobile phone from her other hand but she had a cord attached to it wrapped her wrist, the court heard.
The "terrified" woman called for help as the robber fled, with two men hearing her and chasing him down and detaining him.
'Hope you recognise wrong'
In a statement read to the court, the woman said the robbery had hurt her "emotionally", adding: "I genuinely do not think I will ever feel safe walking around the area I love."
She said she was now "wary" of going out on her own and felt "less independent" since the "awful ordeal".
"I should be able to walk the streets of my hometown without being fearful of what might happen," she said, adding: "I have never in my life felt unsafe in my own community."
In mitigation, the court heard Afrasiyabipour, who was assisted in court by a Persian interpreter, wanted to sincerely apologise to the woman.
The court heard he had been granted asylum four years ago and had no history of offending in either the UK or Iran.
Recorder Brian Whitehead said Afrasiyabipour was "intoxicated with drugs" at the time of the robbery.
The judge said the defendant had been assessed by probation workers as having a "realistic prospect" of rehabilitation.
As part of his suspended sentence, Afrasiyabipour will have to complete 150 hours of unpaid work and complete activities with the Probation Service.
"It's a pity you have repaid the generosity of this country by doing this but I hope you recognise you have done wrong," Whitehead told Afrasiyabipour.
A restraining order banning Afrasiyabipour from contacting the victim or entering her housing estate was also made to last for five years.
