An opportunist thief has admitted grabbing a woman’s bag as she walked home from a night out with work colleagues in Carmarthenshire.

Jake Dighton, 31, of Bridge Street, Llanelli, was identified thanks to CCTV which placed him in the area of the robbery.

He pleaded guilty to the offence at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, July 25.

It was heard that the victim had been on her mobile phone to her boyfriend when she first saw the defendant near the town’s Eastgate bus station at just before midnight on Friday, June 20.

They both crossed the road and she slowed down to create some distance between them. Dighton turned down a side street and the victim crossed to the opposite side of the road until he was out of sight. She believed he had gone in a different direction and carried on his journey.

As she walked along Glenalla Road, she noticed a shadow over her left shoulder, which she assumed was someone walking past her.

She felt her left shoulder being pulled back by the strap of her handbag and fell forward onto the floor, while the defendant run off with her bag.

Despite suffering cuts and bruises from her fall, she attempted to chase him but lost sight of the defendant. She made her way home where she contacted the police.

Following the incident, officers issued a public appeal for information and carried out extensive CCTV and doorstep enquiries.

Footage leading up to the incident and of Dighton’s movements afterwards helped positively identify him. Officers were led to St Elli’s Church in the town where they found him living in a tent in the church grounds.

He was subsequently arrested and charged with robbery.

Judges at Swansea Crown Court remanded Dighton in custody. He will be sentenced later this year.