A man has been jailed for trying to steal from two people in Accrington in the space of a few minutes.
Paul Couldwell (pictured) targeted a 40-year-old woman and a girl, aged 11, but was left empty-handed on both occasions.
At around 7.57am on Friday 10th May last year, Couldwell was walking a dog on King Street and came behind the woman.
He made a grab for her handbag, but she held on to it while Couldwell’s dog – by now off the leash – was running round her.
Couldwell and the dog ran off towards Asda, with members of the public coming to the woman’s assistance.
Shortly afterwards, around 8.05am, a girl was walking on Queens Road West, looking at her mobile phone.
Couldwell, again walking his dog, went past her before trying to grab the phone out of her hand.
The girl bravely clung on to the phone, screamed, and Couldwell ran off.
Couldwell, 34, of Meadoway, Church, Accrington, pleaded guilty in November to attempted robbery in relation to trying to steal the woman's handbag, and attempted theft regarding the girl's phone.
When he appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court, he was jailed for two years.
Det Con Vicky Heys of Lancashire Police, said: “Paul Couldwell targeted two victims – one them a child - in a matter of minutes in Accrington and tried to steal from them.
“Both victims were walking alone and Couldwell targeted them. They were terrified.
“I welcome the prison sentence imposed by the judge, it sends the message that offences like this will not be tolerated.”
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