Bag snatcher caught out by trilby

The tell-tale trilby hat of a thieving Black Country pensioner landed him back in the dock for the 65th time - but he avoided jail despite stealing vulnerable victims' handbags.

Gilbert Boswell, who has served several prison sentences during a lifetime of crime, was spared more jail for stealing bags from four women as they shopped. The 68-year-old was caught after snatching the bag of 81-year-old Julie Danns from her trolley while her back was turned at Sainsbury's store in Oldbury town centre on November 17 last year.

Prosecutor Mark Phillips told Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday: "A member of the store security staff was suspicious of the behaviour of the man who was wearing a distinctive trilby, and this helped him to be followed to the bus station where he was challenged."

Boswell still had the handbag he had just stolen which was returned to the victim, who later told detectives: "I feel sick and upset."

Police searched the home of Boswell and found items that pinpointed where earlier offences had been committed over two-months.

Boswell had taken a handbag from a woman shopping with two children in Erdington and then used her cash card with withdraw £300.

He stole a bag from a 78-year-old shopper Gertrude Kay at Asda in Great Bridge with £310 cash. She said later: "It made me feel angry and upset and I lost sleep."

A 56-year-old woman had a handbag with £140 cash inside taken by him in Tesco in Five Ways, Birmingham.

Prosecutor Mr Phiilips concluded: "This is the 65th time that he has been before a court. He has received numerous prison sentences starting in 1966."

Ben Williams, defending, said: "He is a career criminal with neither family nor friends."

Boswell, who lives in sheltered accommodation in Taverners Green, Handsworth, Birmingham, has had several strokes and had been behind bars for more than four monthswaiting for the case to come to court.

He pleaded guilty to theft and false representation and was given a six-month sentence, suspended under supervision for two years, by Recorder David Tucker.