Cowardly thug is jailed for seven years after punching pregnant woman in the face and stealing her laptop at railway station
- Kieran Blunden, 30, snatched the laptop at Littlehaven station in West Sussex
- He took it from pregnant victim’s hands as she used it before fleeing the scene
- CCTV footage from last June 28 around 5.10pm led to Blunden being identified
- He was already in custody for unrelated charge and was arrested two days later
- Blunden pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for seven years
Kieran Blunden, 30 of Horsham, pleaded guilty to robbery after snatching a laptop from a pregnant victim at Littlehaven railway station in West Sussex
A cowardly thug stole a pregnant woman’s laptop as she sat at a train station then punched her in the face when she tried to keep hold of the computer.
Kieran Blunden, now 30, of Honeysuckle Walk, Horsham, snatched the laptop the pregnant victim was using out of her hands before fleeing the scene at Littlehaven railway station in West Sussex.
He approached the woman, who was seated at the station and using her laptop, around 5.10pm on June 28, 2019.
The woman tried to take the laptop back, but Blunden struck her in the face to stop her and ran away.
Making off with the device under his arm, Blunden headed down the platform and jumped over the level crossing barriers.
As he crossed the tracks, Blunden fell over, but got to his feet and was chased into a nearby street by a witness.
During the chase, the witness shouted at him to stop and come back, to which Blunden replied ‘it’s my laptop’ and managed to get away.
CCTV footage of the incident last June 28 last year around 5.10pm led to Blunden being identified due to his previous dealings with police.
Blunden approached the woman, who was seated at the station and using her laptop, around 5.10pm on June 28, 2019
He was already in custody for an unrelated charge and was arrested for this offence in the early hours of June 30, 2019.
At Lewes Crown Court on September 25, Blunden pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for seven years – including a four-year custodial sentence plus a three-year extension period.
He was also ordered by a judge to pay a victim surcharge of £181.
British Transport Police detective constable Imogen Sweeney said: ‘This was a shocking and brazen incident in broad daylight involving a pregnant woman.
CCTV footage of the incident last June 28 last year around 5.10pm led to Blunden being identified due to his previous dealings with police
‘We will always pursue offenders carrying out crimes of this nature in the strongest possible terms.
‘I would like to thank the victim for her continued support throughout the investigation, as well as the members of the public that came forward.
‘I am grateful to the courts for the strong sentence imposed on the defendant.’
After snatching the laptop, Blunden made off with it under his arm. He headed down the platform and jumped over the level crossing barriers of the station (pictured)