Man Admits 'Sickening' £5 Robbery Of Pensioner

A man has admitted a "callous and sickening" mugging in which he knocked down a 93-year-old pensioner for just £5.

Soloman Bygraves - described as "dangerous" by his defence solicitor - entered his guilty plea at Southwark Crown Court.

Stanley Evans' case made headlines after he was followed into a communal area of a block of flats in London's Soho and attacked.

He managed to struggle to his feet after five minutes on the floor and dialled 999. He suffered a shoulder injury but did not require hospital treatment.

Police released CCTV of the robbery after the attack on 31 January.

Bygraves, 29 and of no fixed address, wore a grey tracksuit as he admitted the crime via videolink from Wandsworth Prison.

John Causer, defending, said he had a lengthy criminal record, including three convictions for robbery.

He added: "The court will wish to consider the issue of dangerousness. There is a background of mental health issues and drug issues."

Mr Evans insists he is "not afraid to go out", but says his injuries could have been a lot worse.

"I could have slipped and knocked my head, and for a person to attack an older person like me, it deserves prison because older people can't defend themselves and they know that and it's taking advantage of that."

"The worst part of it was the surprise," he said.

"But it hasn't affected me physically or psychologically, I'm not afraid to go out - I've been here for 50 years."

The judge remanded Soloman Bygraves in custody to be sentenced on 13 April.