Jay Makwana snatched a woman’s purse with £200 in it (Picture: MET Police)
A man has been jailed for stealing a woman’s purse while pretending to be a good samaritan.
Jay Makwana, 40, was captured on police body cam footage snatching an 81-year-old’s money as she was sprawled on the floor injured.
At around 10.50am on November 9 last year Makwana approached the woman after she withdrew money from a bank in Bexleyheath, London.
CCTV showed him pushing her to the ground, causing her to hit her head on the pavement.
He then waited with the woman until police officers arrived before putting her purse into a carrier bag and leaving the scene. The purse contained approximately £200 in cash at the time.
The woman suffered facial injuries and was taken by the London Ambulance Service to a south London hospital where her injuries were assessed as not life-threatening.
Makwana, of Erith, was arrested by officers from the South East Basic Command Unit on November 24. He was interviewed and charged the following day.
He pleaded guilty to robbery at Woolwich Crown Court on Wednesday, January 6 and was sentenced to six years in jail.
Sergeant Matt Taylor, of the Burglary Robbery Investigation Team, said: ‘This was a truly shocking assault on a woman who was deliberately targeted because of her age and vulnerability.
‘It has had a huge impact on the victim’s life and left her scared to leave home alone. I hope the fact that Makwana received a significant custodial sentence will bring her some closure as she continues to come to terms with this terrible ordeal.’
Makwana was also ordered to pay a £190 victim surcharge.
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