Man stole phone from disabled Barnardo' volunteer (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Thief grabbed phone from woman near Bradford Cathedral

11:00am Saturday 18th August 2012 in News

A 21-year-old man who robbed a disabled charity worker of her phone as she walked to church has been spared a jail sentence.

Craig Thompkins grabbed the cerebral palsy sufferer near Bradford Cathedral on Sunday, April 1, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

He shook her arm, causing bruising, before taking her £500 iPhone.

Thompkins, of Daisy Street, Great Horton , Bradford, ran off but dropped the phone when he realised police were chasing him, prosecutor Nick Worsley told the court.

Mr Worsley said Thompkins’ 25-year-old victim was a volunteer with Barnardo’s charity and was unable to go back to her charity work for two weeks after the event.

The court was told Thompkins had written a letter to the judge and wished his could apologise to his victim in person.

Thompkins was sentenced to an intensive community order for 12 months with supervision and a three month curfew order.

He was ordered to pay £275 compensation to his victim.