This is the shocking moment a brutal burglar bundled an elderly woman to the ground in her own home before snatching the rings from her fingers.
Callous Dwayne Hollingworth tricked his way into 88-year-old Alice Swale's Hull home before attacking her, leaving her lying in distress on the floor while he ransacked her house looking for things to steal.
The 27-year-old struck on April 6, conning his way into his victim's home by pretending he was trying to sell meat he had stolen.
He then asked to use her upstairs toilet and Mrs Swale heard him making his way through her bedroom.
Once Hollingworth came back downstairs he knocked Mrs Swale to the ground, stealing jewellery from her, including a wedding band she had worn for 48 years.
After Hollingworth had fled the scene, Mrs Swale managed to get to the phone to call 999.
He had left his elderly victim needing treatment for shock and severe bruising to her fingers.
Police conducted house-to-house enquiries in the area and reviewed CCTV that relatives had installed and quickly identified Hollingworth, who was arrested within six hours of the incident being reported.
At Hull Crown Court yesterday, Hollingworth, of Annandale Road, Hull, who had previously admitted his to robbery, was sentenced to 9 years six months and four weeks in prison.
The officer in the case, Detective Constable Lee Sims, said: “This was a despicable offence against a very vulnerable elderly woman in her own home. The CCTV footage of the incident is harrow to watch with the victim weakly trying to protect herself as Hollingworth ripped the rings off her fingers.
“The incident itself left the victim very shaken and her family was devastated she’d been targeted in this way. Fortunately, as a force we were able to deploy quickly to the incident, conduct house to house and also identify and arrest Hollingworth. I know this was a huge relief for his victim and her family.
“The sentence issued by the court shows the severity of the offence and highlights that the police, courts and society will not tolerate such crimes.”
