A BRADFORD man who dragged a woman to the ground and said "I'll take your head off" in an attempted robbery at Forster Square Retail Park has been given a second chance by a judge.

Benjamin Sanderson, 40, Simes Street, Bradford, was given a suspended two-year sentence after attempting to rob a woman of her handbag on September 16, 2021, at Forster Square Retail Park.

In Bradford Crown Court, Crown prosecutor Keith Allen described the attempted robbery which was captured on CCTV.

He said the victim walked by the Foster Square arches on her way to work. She then went through an underpass in Forster Square Retail Park and noticed the defendant was walking behind her.

"She said she felt a man put her hands on her shoulders and pulled her to ground.

As Sanderson tried to take the handbag, "he put his foot on her chest and said I'll take your head off if you don't let go of the bag".

CCTV footage also showed when two men approached to assist the woman Sanderson ran off.

Mr Allen said: "She was left shaken, frightened by what happened and had bruising on her arm."

Christopher Styles, defending, said: "He's expressed his sincere remorse over this matter.

"He was street homeless at the time. He was sleeping under the railway arch in a tent. At the time he was on Spice, cocaine and other class A drugs.

"He has taken significant steps since then. In the absence of drugs, he has trusted prisoner status and is an orderly for the prison chaplain.

"He's capable of being a useful member of society."

Recorder Sam Green told Sanderson: "You singled out a lone woman due to a perceived vulnerability and didn't realise you dealing with a hard lady.

"But I've listened carefully to what Mr Styles said and I take it on balance that your remorse is genuine.

"You're capable of getting it together but not without and intervention.

"You spent six months in prison and seem to be addressing real change."

In sentencing the defendant, Judge Green said: "Against my better judgment, I'm going to take a punt and suspend your two-year prison sentence with conditions."

The conditions include a 35-day rehabilitation activity requirement, 12 months of drug rehabilitation and 200 hours of unpaid work.

Sanderson was also ordered to pay £400 in victim compensation and £100 in costs to the prosecution.

Judge Green said: "If you breach these orders or reoffend you'll be going back down those stairs into the prison system.

"Don't let me down. If you make a fool out of me, you won't do it again."