A BRAVE woman who was pushed, kicked and dragged across the ground as she was robbed by two youths in broad daylight in Weymouth has praised the quick work of police – who she said apprehended the assailants within 45 minutes.

Owen Roos, with another youth, stopped the woman on her bicycle in Lodmoor Country Park asking for directions before dragging her to the ground and kicking her in an effort to get her to drop her handbag.

They eventually ran off with the bag and the victim told the Echo that she followed them on her bike and was able to alert a dog walker to call the police. She said officers were there within 15 minutes and within a further 30 minutes, both attackers were in police custody.

She added: "I have nothing but praise for the quick actions of the police and would like to personally thank all those involved.

"As for my attackers - they chose the wrong person to mess with."

The judge, His Honour Peter Henry, jailed Roos, aged 19, at Southampton Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to one count of robbery and two counts of fraud by false representation.

Bournemouth Echo: Southampton Crown Court. Southampton Crown Court.

Roos, also known as Owen Johannas Lee-Roos, of Canal Road, Armley, Leeds, was said to have committed the offences with another male who cannot be named for legal reasons.

Prosecuting, Peter Asteris, said that Roos, who was 17 at the time, and the other male stopped the woman at around 4.45pm on January 25 last year to ask for directions before one of them attempted to snatch her bag.

The woman was said to have 'clutched' onto her bag and 'wasn't prepared to give up'. Both assailants were said to have then pulled her down and 'dragged' her a short distance across the ground by the bag's strap. When the strap broke, they made off with the bag on an electric scooter.

Mr Asteris said police acted 'fairly swiftly' and were able to quickly identify the youths and undertook a search of their rooms.

Officers found a handbag in Roos' room as well as vodka and cigarettes, which he had bought from a newsagent with the victim's credit card.

In a victim personal statement read out by Mr Asteris, the victim said it was hard to deal with the fact that two young lads felt they had the right to physically attack her and take her things.

Mitigating, Katie Williams, said: "Nothing I say is intended to undermine the seriousness of this offence or the bravery of the victim in this case."

She said Roos, who was on a referral order at the time of the offences, was remorseful and 'deeply ashamed' of his actions and urged the judge to give him a suspended sentence.

Ms Williams said that Roos was diagnosed with Asperger's and was more likely to be influenced.

At the time Roos was in care and had recently moved to Weymouth.

Judge Henry told the defendant: "Imagine for a moment that something like that had happened to your mother or someone you knew - it's obvious the effect it would have on a person.

"I'm afraid this offence is far too serious to impose a suspended sentence."

The judge said the offences were aggravated by the fact that Roos had drunk half a bottle of vodka before the attack and had taken cocaine the night before.

He said: "There must have been an element of planning as you targeted [the victim], a lone lady riding her bicycle.

"You two took the view that she was easy prey and used an electric scooter to perpetrate these offences."

Judge Henry sentenced Roos to a total of 15 months imprisonment at a young offenders institution.

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