A man was yesterday (March 12) jailed following a knife point robbery in Carlisle.
Reece Holmes, 25, of Longholme Road was sentenced to four years eight months for robbery, possession of cannabis and two counts of possession of a knife blade in a public place.
He pleaded guilty to the offences at a hearing on Monday 9 March.
The court heard on 2 February at 10am police received a 999 call from a member of the public reporting a woman being robbed by a man.
The man all dressed in black and wearing a balaclava stole the woman’s handbag at knife point before making off.
The woman she suffered head and hand injuries during the incident.
Officers responding to the incident located Holmes on Cranbourne Road where he was in possession of a balaclava, a knife, items belonging to the victim and had blood on his hands.
Detective investigating the incident located CCTV footage showing the lead up to the incident in which Holmes was seen following the victim off the bus.
Holmes grabbed the victim’s bag, which was across her body. The victim attempted to hit him with her walking stick before falling to the ground due to Holmes pulling the strap. Holmes then cut the bag from the victim’s body and ran off leaving the victim on the floor.
Detective Constable Ellie McCorkell from Cumberland CID said “Holmes subjected the victim to a violent attack using a knife to take the woman’s bag.
“Offences of this nature are unacceptable.
“The victim suffered lacerations to her head and hand during his attack with the knife ad well as a broken finger.
“Today’s sentence reflects the seriousness taken by the courts and that we will do everything we can to bring criminals to justice.”