Man convicted of robbing woman in Thornbury Tesco carpark

A MAN has been convicted of robbing a woman in a supermarket carpark.

Bristol Crown Court heard that the Tesco car park in Thornbury was the scene of a drive-by handbag snatch.

Victim Emma Chamberlain visited the store off Midland Way to buy credit for her mobile phone when two men in a people carrier drove past, one of whom wrenched her bag from her arm, sending her flying.

Kai Rossiter, who was driving the car, pleaded guilty to the robbery, which happened on the evening of November 7 last year.

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

He initially lied to police, claiming that the people carrier had been stolen, but later admitted perverting the course of justice.

Craig Walters, 30, of North East Road, Thornbury, denied being involved in the robbery but was convicted by a jury yesterday after a two-day trial and will be sentenced next month.

Kannan Siva, prosecuting, said Mrs Chamberlain had tried to hold on to the bag when it was grabbed from her shoulder but had to let go when she was thrown to the ground.

She suffered swelling and bruising to her left hand and a grazed right elbow and lost possessions including a purse containing £50.

The jury heard a shaken Mrs Chamberlain could not identify the vehicle involved but a 17-year-old boy, who gave evidence from speaking behind a screen, told the jury he had seen it and identified Walters as sitting in the front passenger seat.

He said Walters left the car and fled on foot before police arrived.

Another teenager saw Walker and also identified Rossiter.

Walters had claimed he was not in the vehicle at the time the mugging took place and backed Rossiter's story that the car had been stolen, when asked by police.