Granny, 81, fought mugger

Published: Dec. 30, 2008 at 7:04 PM
Order reprints
GLASGOW, Scotland, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Prosecutors in Scotland said an 81-year-old woman struggled with a man who tried to steal her purse and foiled the attempted crime.

Authorities said Patrick Wallace, 32, admitted to trying to snatch Margaret Somerville's purse while she was waiting for a train July 23 from Paisley to Glasgow, The (Glasgow, Scotland) Daily Record reported Tuesday.

"The accused, who was on a bicycle, approached her from behind," prosecutor Graeme Jessop told the High Court in Glasgow. "As he passed, he grabbed hold of her handbag."

"She held on to her bag and struck out with her right arm, striking the accused on the side of the head and knocking him from the bicycle," Jessop said. "Wallace continued to pull at the bag. But she refused to let go and, as a result, was pulled to the ground while still holding the bag."

Wallace's sentencing was deferred for reports.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


Cruz added to AL All-Star team (6 min)
Couple in Lisa Nowak case set to marry (9 min)
UPI NewsTrack Health and Science News (15 min)
UPI NewsTrack Quirks in the News (24 min)
ROTC cadet dies during training exercise (26 min)
Lead level prompts recall of Sport Balls (30 min)
Driver in Michigan crash had lost license (37 min)
fark
CNN delves into the hard-hitting story others are too timid to confront: What do psychics have to...
Prospect Heights, Illinois Police Department HQ to close to the public on Fridays. Citizens are...
This sounds safe: 500,000 people with access to military weapons, all going through nicotine withdrawal...
"She's an opportunistic gold-digging attention whore," says opportunistic gold-digging attention...
Llost llamas llocated in Llouisville
2001: Teacher fired for sleeping with student. 2003: Hired again by same school. 2006: Fired again...