Byline: DEAN VALLER

A COVENTRY man involved in a series of handbag snatches has been sent to prison.

One of the incidents led to a 74-year-old woman being dragged along by a car driven by 23-year-old drug addict Chandeep Samra, who targeted three women pensioners in the space of three hours.

Samra, of Woodhill Rise, Holbrooks, in Coventry, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years imprisonment when he appeared at Coventry Crown Court yesterday after previously pleading guilty to robbery, theft and attempted theft.

Phil Bradley, prosecuting, said 70-year-old Patricia McGhee was walking in relica rolex Corporation Street, Coventry city centre, at about 6.30am when she was approached by Samra who Dimmable LED Down Light K1005 - 3x1W / 3x3W asked for directions.

He snatched her handbag from her shoulder and ran off, getting into a small grey car driven by a woman.

Cards, cash and valuables worth about pounds 50 were stolen.

Five minutes later Pauline Stecenko, aged 68, was walking along Trinity Street when she was approached from behind by Samra.

He pulled at the handbag on her shoulder, but she managed to hold on and Samra fled.

At 9.30am Marie Ward, aged 74, was waiting at a bus stop outside the Bull's Head pub in Binley Road when Samra and a woman pulled up in a small grey car.

Samra was driving and his female passenger got out and asked the pensioner for directions before grabbing the handbag.

Mr Bradley added: "The woman tried to keep hold of the handbag but the car made off and she was pulled some way before falling totally in to the road."

She was treated at Coventry and Warwickshire Hospital for severe grazing to both knees, and her elbows and hands. The bag contained pounds 220 and cheque and bank cards.

He said Samra's female accomplice had not been found.

Sarah Buckingham, defending, said Samra had become hooked on crack cocaine this year, having never previously had a drug problem, and fallen in with the wrong crowd, turning to crime to pay for his habit.