A ROBBER who targeted an 11-year-old schoolgirl on her way to class has been jailed for three years and four months.

The Bolton School pupil was attacked in broad daylight as she walked to the Chorley New Road school at 8.30am on September 19, Bolton Crown Court heard.

The girl was grabbed from behind by 34-year-old drug addict Gareth Llewellyn as she made her way along a back street off Park Road, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, Judge Timothy Clayson was told.

Llewellyn approached from behind her, wrapped his arms around her and ordered her: “Give me that, ” said Michael Morley, prosecuting.

The girl tried to fight back, elbowing her attacker in the stomach, but he did not release his grip, grabbing her wrists and her face, knocking off her glasses, the court heard.

The iPod was dropped on the ground and when the girl screamed, alerting several parents nearby who were dropping off their own children, Llewellyn snatched up the £100 device and ran off.

“She was very shaken up by the incident,” said Mr Morley, “She is now afraid to walk to school alone, even the short distance from the car park.”

The court was told how Llewellyn was caught due to the public spirited actions of a Bolton town centre shop assistant.

Llewellyn went to the Oxford News newsagents and offered worker Irbaz Patel the iPod for £10.

But Mr Patel was suspicious about the offer, bought the device and immediately contacted the email address of the real owner he found stored on the iPod.

His actions led to police viewing CCTV footage taken outside the shop and identifying Llewellyn.

Mr Patel’s public spiritedness was praised by Judge Clayson, who ruled that the shop assistant should be paid a £100 reward from central funds.

“That sort of action is always to be recognised in my view. He could hardly have been more helpful,” commented the judge.

Appearing in court via a video link from Forest Bank prison, Llewellyn, of Rothwell Street, pleaded guilty to robbery.

He has an extensive criminal record for robbery and, at the time he attacked the schoolgirl, he was on licence from prison after serving a sentence for drug dealing.

Kimberley Morton, defending, told how, on the day of the robbery, heroin addict Llewellyn had been staying with friends in Park Road and was on his way to the Job Centre.

“He had not planned to go out and rob a school girl,” she said.

“He saw the iPod and that’s what he went for. He hadn’t intended to cause her any harm.

“He says that if he could turn the clock back and apologise, he would do.

“He is very upset by his own behaviour.”

Judge Clayson sentenced Llewellyn to three years and four months in prison.

He told him: “I accept that, in the cold light of day, you wish very much you had not committed that offence, but that is what happened.

“Although it hadn’t been planned in advance, you definitely and clearly saw your victim for what she was — a young girl.”

Speaking after the case Mr Patel said he was pleased about judge’s offer of a reward.

“That is really kind,” he said, adding that he had been shocked when he learnt the iPod had been stolen from such a young girl. “I am glad to have helped the police,” he said.

Bolton School Girls Division head Sue Hincks declined to comment.