A young boy screamed at a thug as he robbed his pregnant mother in the street. Ryan Shaw, 43, chatted with the woman, who was with her child, as they waited in the queue at Lloyd’s TSB in Eccles town centre, Salford.
She told him she was four months pregnant. Shaw watched as the woman left and, as she stood outside counting cash in an envelope, attempted to snatch it. A struggle broke out before the cash dropped to the floor.
Shaw grabbed the envelope before running off. The child shouted at Shaw to get away from his mother.
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When he was later arrested, he had shaved off his beard and was wearing ‘thick framed glasses’. Shaw, from Irlam, has now admitted robbery. On Thursday (October 10), he was jailed for a year and eight months at Manchester Crown Court.
Brian Berlyne, prosecuting, said the incident happened at around 12.30pm on May 22 this year. The woman had gone to collect a Universal Credit payment of £900.
“As she was waiting in the queue, Mr Shaw was waiting behind her,” he added. “He was a complete stranger to her when he began to engage her in conversation. She thought he was simply being friendly.”
The court heard Shaw was close enough to hear the amount being handed over. CCTV footage showed him glancing towards her as she walked out of the bank with her son.
“He left the queue, walked out of the bank and approached her from behind,” Mr Berlyne added. He grabbed at the envelope in her hand and she was taken by surprise.”
The woman was taken to hospital by police. Her unborn child was not hurt. Shaw was recognised by a bank cashier who had served him the day before and officers were able to track him down.
“The Crown say he appears to have changed his appearance to attempt to avoid detection,” Mr Berlyne said. In a statement, the woman said: “I never thought this would happen to me, especially in front of my child. How can anybody be so low to do that?
“He knew I was pregnant, I told him, and he still did this to me.” She said she had struggled to come to terms with what happened and she was frightened of going out on her own, adding: “If I can’t be safe in a busy town centre, in the middle of the day, with my child, where will I be safe?
“This man knew I was pregnant when he did this and it’s like he didn’t care.” Shaw has 15 previous convictions for theft. Mitigating, Steven Sullivan said: “He has genuine regret and remorse and shame for his actions. He cannot rationalise why he acted in that manner.
“At that particular time he was going through the breakdown of a relationship and was abusing alcohol. He saw an opportunity without thinking of the consequences.”
Jailing Shaw, of Ash Avenue, Irlam, Recorder Alexandra Simmonds said: “It was a shocking piece of behaviour on your part – a mean offence. I find the victim was targeted due to her vulnerability.
“She was pregnant at the time and you knew it. You decided to commit the offence, thinking she would be an easy target. You clearly contemplated it and took advantage of her.”
Shaw was ordered to pay £900 compensation and was made the subject of an indefinite restraining order.
