Robber facing jail after admitting mugging woman in her 70s near Hartlepool marina

Derek Lynch, 53, pleaded guilty to robbing the victim of her handbag and contents last month when he appeared at Teesside Crown Court by video to Durham Prison on Wednesday, July 7.

The mugging is understood to have happened around lunchtime on Tuesday, June 8, on Maritime Avenue.

Police said at the time that members of the public went to the victim’s aid until police arrived and recovered her handbag.

Lynch was arrested and charged by Hartlepool CID within 24 hours.

His defence barrister Christine Egerton said Lynch, of Admiral Way, Hartlepool, was “under no illusion” about what his sentence will be.

But she asked for the case to be adjourned for a pre-sentence report to reflect his “genuine remorse” and obtain a character reference.

Lynch will return to court to be sentenced on Friday, August 20.

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