Handbag thieves targeted elderly (From Bournemouth Echo)

Handbag thieves targeted elderly

8:51am Saturday 21st June 2008 in

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Two drug addicts who robbed elderly women in Bournemouth to fund their habits have each been jailed for four years.

Portuguese Sandro Marques, 26, and Venezuelan Orlando Dias, 28, targeted eight victims in March this year aged from 61 to 86.

Marques of Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth admitted two robberies, an attempted robbery and handling stolen goods from snatched bags. He asked for 12 additional offences to be taken into consideration.

Dias of Southbourne Place, Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to two robberies, two offences of handling stolen goods and theft.

Prosecuting at Bournemouth Crown Court yesterday, Angela England said Marques and Dias had targeted elderly ladies, some holidaymakers.

One victim was walking with a friend when her bag was snatched. Money was later withdrawn from her bank using a stolen card.

A 75-year-old woman had just collected her pension when she was robbed in Norwich Avenue.

The court heard how an 84-year-old and 86-year-old woman had been sitting on a cliff-top bench when Marques grabbed one of their bags with such force that the owner lost her balance. His bid to steal the second bag failed.

Dias struck outside a Bournemouth hotel on March 28, stealing a bag containing cash and hearing aids worth £4,000.

Another holidaymaker gave chase in vain after Dias stole her bag on March 31.

On the same day Marques targeted a 61-year-old woman in Cambridge Road.

Following the street robberies police set up a special operation on March 28. Marques and Dias were arrested three days later.

In Dias's defence the court heard how his addiction to heroin and crack cocaine had "corrupted his spirit."

He now recognised the seriousness of his actions and had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.

Defending Marques, Robert Grey said he was a man of previous good character who had been hooked on heroin, adding: "He is very ashamed."

Judge John Harrow told Dias and Marques: "It is clear that you deliberately selected vulnerable female victims. You used a degree of force."

He recommended that the Home Secretary consider deporting both defendants on their release from prison.