MOMENTS after a drug dealer made a threat to Craig Mason s family, he grabbed an elderly lady s handbag causing her great distress. Mason would probably never have been caught for the robbery but for an admission he made when he was arrested for burglary.

MOMENTS after a drug dealer made a threat to Craig Mason's family, he grabbed an elderly lady's handbag causing her great distress.

Mason would probably never have been caught for the robbery but for an admission he made when he was arrested for burglary.

On Friday the 27-year-old mechanic was jailed for two-and-a-half years for a string of offences.

Judge Gareth Davies told him: "The attack on an elderly lady late at night is a classic example of something that causes tremendous worry to communities.

"She describes the upset and distress that arose from it and it is likely she will never go out in the dark because of what you did.

"But I accept your admission to police demonstrates considerable remorse for what you did."

Mason, of The Hornbeams, Stevenage, pleaded guilty at Luton Crown Court to robbery and burglary with eight offences taken into consideration.

Ann Evans, prosecuting, said the robbery victim was walking with her husband, who uses a stick, on November 1 last year in the Hornbeams area. Mason grabbed her bag. She tried to keep hold of it but failed. There was only about £20 in her purse.

She told police the attack had taken away her sense of security and she was especially annoyed as it must have been obvious to the robber that they were elderly.

On January 12 Mason burgled a house in Hornbeams while the owner was away and stole a large quantity of property. He was arrested after selling a stolen DVD player to Cash Converters using his correct name and date of birth.

He said he used the money to pay drug debts and went on to admit another burglary in Shephall Way and thefts and deceptions.

Philip Levy, defending, said: "Drugs have taken hold of him and he has literally fallen to pieces.

"When he committed the robbery he had just come out of a phone box having been threatened by his drug dealer and grabbed the first available thing.