AN Ellesmere Port woman who robbed a disabled man out of £20 has been jailed for two years.

Cheryl Peggy Wheadon, 34, of Somerville Crescent, pleaded guilty to robbing the man, who used a walking stick, outside the Asda store in Ellesmere Port, before her trial was due to take place.

Appearing from custody at Chester Crown Court on Thursday, February 18, Wheadon was told by Judge Simon Berkson it was a "nasty" offence committed in broad daylight with other members of the public present.

Prosecuting, Michael Whitty said the victim had previously suffered a stroke and used a walking stick to get about.

It was at about 6.30pm on July 15, 2019, when he had left home to go to the Asda store, carrying his wallet, and bought drinks at the store.

As he left the store and walked up the ramp, he was approached by Wheadon, who told him: "Give me some money".

When he told her he did not have any, she became aggressive and continually demanded money.

Wheadon then told the man if he did not hand over money, he would go to the police saying the man had raped her. The man said he would report her to the police.

Wheadon then "rifled" through the man's pockets in his shorts and jacket, taking a wallet containing £20, all the while the man telling her to stay away.

The defendant then walked off.

The crime had been witnessed by a woman who had earlier also been asked for money by Wheadon, and made subject to the same "frivolous accusations", Mr Whitty told the court.

When the woman went over to help the man, she was told by Wheadon: "I will smash your head in".

Police were informed and, when an officer was making enquiries outside the store, Wheadon was seen in the area. She tried to run off but was caught and arrested. An officer noted she smelt strongly of intoxicants.

Upon her arrest, she said: "I have not taken anything, he owed me money."

When interviewed, Wheadon denied being involved or having consumed alcohol that day.

An identification procedure saw Wheadon identified by the victim, the female witness and an Asda security guard.

The man, in a victim impact statement, said he felt anxious about going to the shops and making contact with the defendant.

His sleep had been affected and he feared she would turn up at his home.

Wheadon had 30 previous convictions for 46 offences, the most recent for battery from June 2020, for which she received eight weeks in prison in December.

She had a previous conviction for robbery in September 2013 and for begging in 2012.

Defending, Myles Wilson said Wheadon had pleaded guilty to the offence two months before her trial was due to take place in January 2021, and the crime had been a "spur of the moment" offence, with no prior planning.

Wheadon had had problems with drinking and, following the robbery, had given up drinking, but following a family tragedy last year she had had a relapse.

She had been in custody since September 2020, the court heard.

Judge Berkson said Wheadon had targeted the clearly vulnerable man, who would have been "unsurprisingly scared" of her threat to falsely accuse him of rape.

He added: "You effectively roughed him up – not with any violence or weapons, but by going through his pockets. It was a nasty offence of its type.

"You clearly now feel ashamed of it. If only you had pleaded guilty earlier."

As well as the two-year prison sentence, a 10-year restraining order was imposed on Wheadon preventing her from approaching or making contact with the victim.