Jail for Sheffield beggars who groped, robbed and attacked woman, 24, who offered to give them change

By Grace Newton
Published 25th Mar 2022, 15:00 BST
A trio who robbed and assaulted a 24-year-old woman who agreed to give them some money have been sentenced.

Stuart Price, Natalie Mackay and Lisa Beard left the kind-heartened woman extremely distressed following the vicious attack in Sheffield city centre.

Sheffield Crown Court heard how on April 13 last year, the victim walked past a group sat on the floor in the Peace Gardens on Pinstone Street. The group, who included Beard and Price, asked her for some change.

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Detective Sergeant Matthew Penn of South Yorkshire Police said: “The victim kindly agreed to give them some money, but said she first needed to get some change. The victim headed to the nearby post office to get change, but was followed by Price.

Natalie Mackay was jailedNatalie Mackay was jailed
Natalie Mackay was jailed

“The victim generously handed over some money to Mackay, but Mackay then demanded more. Price inappropriately groped her and also demanded she hand over more money.

“Out of sheer fear, the victim gave Price a further £20, but that didn’t stop the group, who launched an attack on the victim, violently striking her multiple times and stealing her phone and jewellery.”

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DS Penn added: “This was an extremely violent incident and caused great distress to the victim, who responded in good faith to someone she thought needed help.

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Neither Stuart Price nor the two other attackers were homelessNeither Stuart Price nor the two other attackers were homeless
Neither Stuart Price nor the two other attackers were homeless

“We are committed to bringing offenders like these three to justice and I hope the public are reassured by this result.”

All three were sentenced at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday March 18.

Price, 32, of Fellbrigg Road, Arbourthorne, pleaded guilty to sexual assault and was handed a 38-month prison sentence and placed on the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.

Mackay, 42, of Derby Street, Heeley, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced to 35 months behind bars.

Beard, 36, of Erskine Crescent, Heeley, pleaded guilty to affray and was handed a 12-month community order along with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a Drug Rehabilitation Requirement.