Boy, 14, mugged frail woman aged 88

Margaret Lomax, who walks with the aid of a stick, suffered shock and bruising in the daylight attack.

Two men saw what had happened and detained the 14-year-old boy as he rifled through the elderly lady's handbag.

While they held on to the boy, one of his friends arrived and threw a spade and a piece of piping at the men in a bid to free the youth.

The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Bolton Crown Court for sentence. He admitted one charge of robbery on July 23 this year.

The court heard that the boy had 15 convictions for attempted robbery, burglary, theft and attempted burglaries since July 2000.

He was currently serving a 12-month Detention and Training Order with a release date of March next year.

Judge Gillian Ruaux said she was limited in sentencing powers because of the boy's age and she had decided against invoking Section 91 powers of increased sentence because of his age.

Prosecutor Alison Heyworth said that the boy had been playing football with other youths on Wordsworth Street, Halliwell.

Margaret Lomax was making her way to meet friends to go on a coach trip when the boy approached her.

Two men -- Terence Etchells and Robert Harper -- saw what had happened and also saw her purse fall from the handbag as the boy ran off.

They caught up with him near some garages where he was rifling through the handbag.

Richard Orme, defending, said the boy had not used any violence on his victim and wished to apologise to her.

Judge Gillian Ruaux said his elderly victim had been suffering major illness and being robbed by a 14-year-old boy just added to her problems.

"If you had pushed this old lady or punched her then I would be dealing with you now under my powers under Section 91 of the Act and I would be locking you away for longer than I can do now."

She sentenced the boy to an eight-month Detention and Training Order to be served at the completion of his current sentence.