A man who admitted snatching handbags out of cars while they waited at traffic lights has been jailed for four years.

Joseph Reid admitted two specimen charges and asked for another 43 offences, including burglary, theft and handling stolen goods, to be considered.

Bradford Crown Court heard Reid was caught after a man saw him stealing a handbag, took his picture and called police.

Reid, 22, who has been a heroin addict since he was 13, would wait at various junctions, looking for handbags left on the passenger seat.

Once he picked on a woman who had her four-month-old daughter in the car. As she stopped at lights on Allerton Road, Reid opened the door, grabbed her bag and, after a short struggle, ran off with it and goods inside worth £128.

He was arrested, after a spate of similar offences, thanks to Andrew Sherriff, who lives near the Sandy Lane traffic lights.

Through his window, Mr Sherriff saw Reid take a bag from a car. He chased Reid, who threw the bag away and escaped. But later, Mr Sherriff saw Reid at the same lights. He called police and took photographs, from which they were able to track down Reid.

Judge Linda Sutcliffe was told that although the thefts must have been shocking for the victims, no violence or weapons were used.

In all, Reid pleaded guilty to two charges of robbery, a charge of theft and a charge of escaping from police custody.

Passing sentence, Judge Sutcliffe said: "I and, I imagine, many other women have to take the precaution of locking ourselves in our cars because we are frightened of somebody getting in to steal our handbags.

"It is a sad feature of out times. It is very disturbing for the victims; it makes them feel unsafe when they are driving about."

She said Mr Sherriff should be awarded £200 from public funds for his "public-spirited actions".