A motorcyclist who had snatched a woman’s handbag in Half-Way-Tree was the butt of laughter in the court when it was publicised that he was hit from a motorcycle by a motor car while attempting to flee with the bag.

“That probably was a part of his punishment,” Judge Andrea Pettigrew-Collins said while people cracked up inside the court.

The court heard that the complainant was walking with her handbag on her shoulder when Noraine Harvey grabbed it, causing one of the straps to break.

Harvey, who had also allegedly assaulted the complainant, then tried to escape but was hit by a motor car in the vicinity of the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre, and fell in the road.

The police were summoned and he was subsequently charged with larceny from the person, malicious destruction of property, and assault occasioning bodily harm.

Harvey, who hobbled into court last Thursday with a walking stick, pleaded guilty to all three charges and was remanded for sentencing on February 20.