Man who robbed girl’s purse in Batley Carr warned in court

Naseer Ismail Laher appeared at Bradford Crown Court yesterday to plead guilty to robbing eight-year-old Chelsea Dixon.

The 31-year-old from Warwick Road, Batley, was remanded to Leeds Crown Court on July 30 where he will be sentenced.

Remanding Laher in custody, Judge Potter said: “This was an eight-year-old girl you robbed. You must expect a significant custodial sentence.”

Chelsea was left heartbroken by the theft of the purse, which contained letters she had written to her brother, Lewis, who was serving in Afghanistan. She was on her way to post these at Batley Carr post office.

There was added heartache as the purse had belonged to Chelsea’s grandmother, who had recently died.

The £3.50 in the purse was for Chelsea to buy sweets.

At the time, Chelsea’s mum, Amanda Dixon, said her daughter had been ‘distraught’ after the purse was snatched. “It is all the more painful because of the sentimental value attached to it,” said Miss Dixon.

“This has really knocked her confidence.”