A man stole a 95-year-old woman's handbag from her trolley as she did her shopping and used her money to place bets.
Neil Staton, of Port Tennant Road, Port Tennant , Swansea , stole the woman's handbag while she shopped in Asda, Llanelli .
The 62-year-old spotted the elderly woman at 1pm on June 13 and was seen loitering around her in the supermarket before reaching into her trolley and taking her handbag, hiding it in a carrier bag and leaving.
Her handbag contained more than £100 and Staton used her money to place bets in a nearby shop.
The crime was reported to police immediately, and CCTV footage was quickly obtained by officers, clearly showing Staton as the offender.
He was seen by officers driving along Station Road and was arrested.
During his police interview, Staton told officers where he had abandoned the bag and police later found it in a wheelie bin behind Station Road, still containing the victim's personal items.
It was returned to the 95-year-old the same day and Staton was charged with theft.
The people jailed last month:
He appeared at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court the following day, where he admitted the offence and was jailed for 24 weeks. He was also ordered to pay £100 in compensation to the victim.
Dyfed-Powys Police sergeant Ben Ashton said: "The suspect preyed on a vulnerable woman for his own gain, and we are pleased with the prompt outcome.
"Staton was identified, located and arrested swiftly, and we were able to return the victim’s handbag, which contained items of sentimental value, within hours of it being stolen, for which she was very grateful."
