Robber who violently beat grandmother-of-16 as she tried to keep hold of handbag containing £120 jailed
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A thug who repeatedly kicked a grandmother-of-16 in the face during a violent street robbery for £120 has been jailed.
Jean Smith, 63, was praised by police for her bravery after being attacked by Grant Shipley in an alleyway just yards from her home in Hull.
After pushing her to the floor, Shipley kicked her twice in the face, breaking her cheekbone, before running off with her handbag, which contained £120, the Hull Daily Mail reports.
Speaking after he was jailed for ten years and three months at Hull Crown Court, Mrs Smith said: "He's a nasty piece of work and I'm glad he's off the streets.
(Photo: Hull Daily Mail)
"I'd want him never to come out but at least he's going to be off the streets for at least seven years."
The grandmother-of-16, of Littleham Close, added: "These people have no idea what the impact they do can have on someone's life.
"They think they can just come up to you, take your money and punch and kick you.
"I work hard for a living and I had just picked up my wages."
(Photo: Hull Daily Mail)
Following the vicious attack, Mrs Smith, a grandmother-of-16, said she was scared to leave her home of 45 years.
"I'm always looking over my shoulder now," she said.
"Before I was made redundant I worked in town doing clothing alterations, and we had all sorts of people coming in.
"But I'm not sure I'd be able to go back there now."
Shortly after the attack on January 5, Mrs Smith told the paper how she tried to fight off the 25-year-old attacker.
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"He kept shouting, 'Give me your f****** bag' and I kept shouting 'You're not having it'," she said.
"He kicked me in the face and kept shouting at me to give him my bag but I kept saying no and he kicked me in the face again.
"That's when I felt the blood running into my eyes and I let go. I couldn't see anything."
Shipley attacked and robbed Mrs Smith as she walked home from work after stopping to get a Chinese take-away.
Shipley, who was waiting in the tenfoot to buy drugs, said to the woman as she passed: "Cold night, isn't it, love?"
"Yes it is," she replied.
(Photo: Hull Daily Mail)
He then pulled his hood up and attacked from behind. She suffered two black eyes, a bruised arm and knuckles, and an injury to her nose.
Four days later, Shipley attacked and robbed his 71-year-old grandfather in his home.
After stealing £20 from the pensioner, Shipley got down on his knees, held out his hands "as if he was praying", and said: "I'm sorry grandad. It's not me, it's the drugs.
"I don't know what I'm doing."
Jeremy Evans, prosecuting, told Hull Crown Court the attack on January 9 was the second time Shipley had robbed his grandfather in the home they shared in Bransholme.
Mr Evans said: "As he was going through the rear door, this defendant suddenly grabbed around his neck, squeezing him tightly so that he was struggling to breathe.
"He put his grandfather on the floor, put his knee on his back, saying, 'Don't move, don't move. Stay where you are'."