A robber who targeted an elderly man in broad daylight has been jailed.
John Ward, aged 41, struck in Bracebridge Drive, Bilborough, shortly after his 78-year-old victim withdrew a large sum of money from a cash machine.
The man was sitting on a bench on the morning of 31 May 2022 as Ward got out of a car, casually strode towards him, and wrenched his wallet from his hands.
He then fled the scene in the same car.
Helped by a partial number plate description from a member of the public, officers soon tracked the Vauxhall Corsa down and arrested its three occupants.
The victim’s wallet was found inside.
Distant CCTV footage of the incident also showed the then-unidentified robber wearing what appeared to be the same clothes Ward was arrested in.
Ward, of Victoria Street, Ironville, initially declined to answer officers’ questions but later pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery.
Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday he was jailed for two years and 11 months.
Detective Constable Dionne Love, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:
“This was a wicked and cowardly attack on an elderly victim.
“Ward saw an opportunity that day and pounced on a man he saw as an easy target.
“Unsurprisingly this incident has had a significant impact on the victim, who was already living with serious health problems.
“Ward showed absolutely no regard for his victim’s welfare and could easily have caused him a serious injury.
“I am pleased he has now been held to account for his actions and would also like to thank the quick-thinking member of the public who memorised details of the car number plate.
“Even though these details weren’t completely accurate, we did have enough information to quickly identify a suspect vehicle and pull it over with Ward and the stolen wallet still inside.
“Thanks in no small part to that bit of quick thinking, Ward is now beginning a well-deserved prison sentence and we have got justice for our victim.”
