A ROBBER who preyed on eight women in six weeks, leaving one with a broken hip, was jailed for five years at Cardiff Crown Court yesterday.
Wayne Gadd, 21, admitted four charges of robbery and asked for three more robberies and one attempted robbery to be taken into account.
Gadd, of Leadon Court, Thornhill, Cwmbran, snatched the handbags of seven women and tried to rob another between June 21 and August 1.
Brass PendantWidow Joyce Berry, 79, who is just 4ft 8in tall, was in hospital for two weeks with a broken hip after Gadd pushed her over in a subway in Cwmbran on June 27.
On July 10 Marion Woodland was walking down a gully when Gadd twisted her arm behind her and made off with her bag. Osteoporosis sufferer Catherine Brooks, 77, suffered a broken rib when Gadd knocked her down and stamped on her chest on July 31.
Prosecutor Alexander Greenwood said she was a frail woman who had a quadruple heart by-pass operation four years ago.
Mr Greenwood said Gadd stamped on her chest when she refused to let go of her handbag and then made off with the bag, which contained her false teeth, valued at pounds 300.
Vera Israel, 74, was pushed by Gadd to the ground from behind, causing her to suffer a broken wrist and hairline t8 led fluorescent tube skull fracture. Gadd then stole her handbag.
All the attacks took place in Cwmbran except the one on Mrs Israel on August 1, which happened in Blaenavon.
The four women victims of the offences taken into account were aged 55-82 and happened in Cwmbran between June 21 and July 11.
Former factory worker Gadd was traced after leaving his mobile phone on a bus after the final offence in Blaenavon.
Harry Baker, defending, said Gadd had lost his job and had no money. Mr Baker said, ``It was the first time he had been away from his parents. He had no money because of the difficulty with redundancy. He is genuinely sorry and frightened about what is going to happen to him. He also wants to apologise to the victims in this case.''
Judge Timothy Brennan QC told Gadd, ``Frail and elderly women can seem easy targets for young men in need of money.
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``The result of those offences is a calamity for you and your family too.''
Before Gadd's capture, detectives in Cwmbran warned that he had to be caught before someone was killed.
After the sentencing yesterday, Detective Inspector Paul Evans said the term of imprisonment was appropriate.
He said, ``Gadd acted alone and other members of his family should not be subjected to any criticism by the community.''
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