Bradford street robber Sean Walker jailed after pouncing on women

Sean Walker will have to serve two thirds of the custodial term before he can even be considered for release.

He had six convictions for robbery when he struck again on the afternoon of Sunday, May 1, last year, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Lower Kirkgate, looking towards Bradford Cathedral (Image: T&A)

Walker, 35, of Maxwell Road, Buttershaw, Bradford, pursued a woman and her 15-year-old daughter who were walking hand in hand along Kirkgate.

They were heading for the cathedral when he ran up and grabbed the woman’s bag. She held on to it but Walker succeeded in snatching it from her, leaving her bruised and the child so distraught that she fell to the ground. Two members of the public were alerted to the girl’s screams and gave chase but Walker got away. He then used the woman’s bank card to defraud her of £30.

On May 20, Walker was caught leaving the Sports Direct store in Kirkgate wearing £55 worth of stolen items under his clothing.

Prosecutor Nicola Hoskins said he pretended to have seen someone shoplifting in a bid to distract the security guards. But they were suspicious of him and he was challenged when leaving the store.

He had a visible price tag sticking out and he was detained after a struggle. He had a stolen shirt and shorts on under his clothing and a pair of scissors.

He was bailed to attend at the magistrates’ court on June 15 but he didn’t turn up.

He was arrested and went on to plead guilty to robbery, bank card fraud, shoplifting and having the scissors for use in theft.

He had ten previous convictions for 15 offences, including the six robberies. In 2014, he was jailed for more than five years and in 2018, he was locked up for 40 months for grabbing a woman’s bag and robbing another woman at a cash machine.

Walker’s barrister, Jayne Beckett, said that since his remand into custody he had worked as a cleaner and obtained enhanced prisoner status. He was no longer taking illegal drugs.

He had supportive family members who would help him to start a new life away from Bradford.

Recorder Paul Reid said Walker was labelled a public danger by the probation service. The author of his report said he was likely to take drugs again and cause serious harm by committing further violent offences.

Recorder Reid agreed with the finding and sentenced him to an extended sentence totalling eight and a half years.

He told Walker he will serve two thirds of the 54-month custodial element before The Parole Board can even consider his release.