A ‘cowardly and opportunistic’ robber phoned the police to falsely plead his innocence after he was identified in a media appeal.
Jacob Harper, aged 31, was caught on camera as he leaned from his bike and grabbed the handbag of an 85-year-old woman – sending her tumbling to the ground.
Harper was caught in CCTV cycling around Eastwood Town Centre before the attack in Nottingham Road on the morning of 8 October 2021.
In the weeks after the incident, Nottinghamshire Police shared a public appeal about what happened.
The appeal, which appeared in local media and on Facebook, included a close-up image of Harper taken in a betting shop shortly before the incident.
The force later received a number of calls and social media comments identifying Harper, along with numerous protestations of his innocence.
Harper himself called the force control room to identify himself from the image but protest his innocence.
Fortunately, the woman was not injured in the attack, however she was left badly shaken by what happened.
During his police interview, Harper also accepted that it was him shown on CCTV riding a silver Carrera bicycle around town, but denied he was on the bike at the time of the robbery.
He continued his denials even when it was pointed out that we was wearing the same trainers and distinctive ripped jeans in his police interview as the robber.
Harper, of Milton Street, Ilkeston, later pleaded guilty admitted to one count of robbery.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (29 July) he was jailed for a total two years and eleven months.
Detective Constable Hollie Fothergill, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This was a cowardly and opportunistic attack on an elderly woman who was simply doing her shopping.
“Harper, who clearly identified her as an easy target, left her sprawled on the ground and could very easily have caused her serious injury.
“His actions that day were reprehensible, and I am pleased he has now been brought to justice.
“This incident has had a very profound impact on the victim, who was left badly shaken by what happened that day.
“I would like to thank her and her family for the patience and dignity they have shown during the legal process. I hope today’s sentence provides them with at least some degree of closure.”
