Ageing criminal who stole handbags from elderly Leeds women pleaded for long jail sentence
A prolific predator who targeted pensioners’ handbags asked a court judge to give him a lengthy jail sentence.
David Clarkson conned his way into one woman’s home then followed another home and snatched her handbag.
The 68-year-old, who has a staggering 41 burglaries in a long criminal career, was handed a new eight-year jail sentence at Leeds Crown Court.
He had asked for an extended sentence to reflect his remorse, saying he deserved it, although the judge felt it was not necessary.
The court heard that on May 18, he approached an elderly woman in her front garden in Leeds and asked her for a glass of water.
The woman agreed to get him one, but he followed her into her bungalow. While she was in the kitchen, he went into the living room.
But she then spotted him reaching for her handbag, so she challenged him. He claimed he was “just looking” but she ordered him to leave.
A day later, he got off a bus at the same time as another elderly woman and followed her to her home in Yeadon.
When she got into her home, he approached and told her there was a fire in her garden.
She did not believe him but he then lunged at her and grabbed her handbag. There was a tussle and he eventually fled with the bag.
The pensioner was left with a broken finger and bruising.
Clarkson, of North Avenue, Bradford, was arrested but refused to answer questions during his interview.
He later admitted charges of burglary and robbery. He has 25 convictions for 115 offences, including 82 for thefts and the 41 burglaries. He was only released from prison in April.
Representing himself in court, he appeared over a video link from HMP Leeds.
He told the judge that he did not think at the time about how it affected his victims.
He had told probation that he had been drinking heavily after being released from prison and was drinking half-a-litre of whisky a day to help cope.
Judge Andrew Stubbs KC said he needed to consider an extended sentence, if he found Clarkson to be a dangerous offender.
Clarkson told him: “An extended sentence is not a punishment, it’s a help. If I had the help of probation it would be positive. It’s a good deterrent.
“Whatever sentence I’m given, I intend to use it to try and put myself in a better position.”
Clarkson thanked the judge and said: “Regardless of what everybody thinks, I’m very, very ashamed.
“I deserve the prison sentence and will serve it. I’m very sorry to the two ladies involved.”