A DRUG addict who robbed a 69-year-old woman at a cashpoint in Dudley has been jailed for 18 months.

Mark Timmins, of High Street, Brockmoor, grabbed pensioner Gabrielle Smith, told her she would be stabbed unless she handed over her purse and that he had AID's.

Timmins, aged 33, admitted robbery and, at Wolverhampton Crown Court, was told by Recorder James Harvey it must have been a terrifying experience for Mrs Smith when she was inside the Bank.

On Thursday October 2, Helena Miller told the court Mrs Smith was so scared she let go of her bag and Timmins made good his escape but he was arrested after the crime was caught on the Bank's CCTV system.

A police officer watched the video and he immediately recognised Timmins who, at the time of the robbery, was heavily under the influence of drugs.

Miss Miller added when Timmins was later arrested he could hardly keep his eyes open because of the drugs in his system.

Mr James Harvey said: “She was at a cashpoint inside the Bank where she thought she would be safe, this was a particularly nasty robbery because you used threats of force.”

Gurdeep Garcha, defending, said it was a “spur of the moment” robbery committed by Timmins after he had taken a large amount of drugs.

Mr Garcha said: “He has a long standing addiction, he has now written to the victim to express his sorrow, his remorse and his shame for his behaviour.

“He accepts what he did was mean because she was a vulnerable victim.”

The court was told Timmins was behind Mrs Smith in the queue for the cashpoint when he suddenly grabbed for her bag after watching her withdraw £50 from her account.