Man jailed following Metro attack on vulnerable woman

A man has been jailed after following a vulnerable woman on the Metro and attempting to rob her.

54-year-old George Coleman got chatting to childhood friend Mary Black, who was recovering from a broken leg, at St. Peter's Metro station in Sunderland.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that Coleman had know Mrs Black for some time since being young and spotted her at the station with her two pet dogs on August 15.

He asked her if he could borrow a cigarette and the two began talking as they hadn't seen each other for some time.

Bridie Smurthwaite, prosecuting said: "Mr Coleman saw Mrs Black as an easy target and got on the same Metro as her.

"When they reached the Brockley Whins station Mrs Black left the Metro - that is when Mr Coleman grabbed her handbag and said 'give me your bag, or else'."

The court heard how Mrs Black, who suffers from arthritis, had been recovering from a broken leg and had been out walking her dogs to test her mobility after it had recently healed.

She tried to fight him off and the two fell to the ground before Coleman - who was found guilty of attempted robbery after trial in July - landed on top of the victim, hurting her bad leg.

Mrs Black managed to bite the attacker on the hand and fled the scene and Coleman, of Trinity Walk, South Shields, then told passers-by that her dogs had attacked him.

In a victim statement, Mrs Black said: "About a week after the attack I was still in shock and still feeling pain in my leg.

"I went to A&E where they told me I had soft tissue damage and I am still in constant pain."

She added: "I'm very frightened to go outside alone."

The court heard that Coleman, who has 17 past convictions, was convicted of theft and given a community order after stealing from a vulnerable 84-year-old man in 2011.