A robber who snatched an elderly woman's handbag, causing her to fall and break her hip, had boiling water poured over him in prison.
Dean Kenyon carried out the frightening robbery in Consett on January 12, and left the 79-year-old victim with lifelong injuries. The 35-year-old grabbed the woman's handbag as she was waiting to be picked up by her daughter at around 8.15pm - but the force of the robbery caused the woman to fall backwards and fracture her hip.
Kenyon was arrested after he was identified on CCTV footage and he was remanded in custody. But while on remand in prison, Kenyon was subjected to a "horrific attack" where boiling water was poured on his legs and arms, resulting in him having five skin graft operations. He is now in "constant and searing pain", Durham Crown Court heard.
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On Friday, Kenyon, of Parkside Crescent, Seaham, appeared at the court via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for robbery. He had pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.
Annie Richardson, prosecuting, said the elderly victim was on Medomsley Road, Consett, waiting to be picked up by her daughter. Ms Richardson, said: "She saw a man she didn't like the look of, with a scruffy appearance, who appeared to be talking on his phone. She believed this to be a pretence."
The woman then made her way down the street to look for her daughter, but Kenyon approached from behind and grabbed her handbag. She managed to bravely keep hold of the strap, but the force resulted in her falling backwards. She called for help as she was on the floor and realised her handbag had been stolen as Kenyon "casually walked away".
Ms Richardson said that following the robbery, the victim "experienced severe pain in her right hip" after fracturing it. Kenyon was later identified from CCTV and he was arrested at his home. The woman's keys were found in one of his jackets but he denied the robbery in police interview and instead "became agitated" and demanded medication.
The court heard that Kenyon had previous convictions for robbery, including one he carried out in the Teesside area in October 2020, when he snatched the purse of a lone woman in her early 50s after he "barged" into her from behind. He later went on to use the woman's bank cards.
Chris Morrison, defending, said: "The level of remorse in this matter is apparent. When the sober realisation of what he had done to that vulnerable lady dawned upon him, he was mortified, and is mortified to this day." He said that Kenyon had carried out the robbery in order to "acquire money for drugs" and said he had been the victim of an attack while on remand.
He added: "Whilst on remand, he has been made subject of a most horrific attack. He had boiling water poured over his arms and legs, resulting in skin grafts to his arms and legs. He has had five skin graft operations and his mobility is to be affected by these. He is currently heavily sedated and is in constant and searing pain."
Sentencing Kenyon, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, handed him a six year prison sentence, with a three year extended licence.
