A TEENAGE thief has admitted stealing a couple of pounds and some oranges from an 83-year-old grandmother in Earby.

The 15-year-old, from Barnoldswick, admits targeting 83-year-old Paula Wolfe, of Green End Road, and will return to court on March 18 for committal proceedings to Burnley Crown Court. She is charged with robbery but denies using force during the incident.

Julie Reddish, prosecuting, told the youth panel that at 12.30pm on February 5, Mrs Wolfe had left her home and walked the short distance to the Co-op in Earby for some groceries.

As she walked back carrying her shopping in a canvas bag near the back of her house she was approached from behind by a teenager.

Mrs Wolfe claimed she was grabbed by her right arm and pulled to the floor where her face hit the ground.

Her attacker then took her shopping bag containing her groceries and her purse.

The elderly woman then said she staggered the short distance to her home with her forehead and nose bleeding.

Her granddaughter called the police and an ambulance and she was taken to Airedale General Hospital. Police began a search of the area and in Rostle Top Road they saw the 15-year-old girl hiding in a back street. She had a coat and hat which matched the description given to them by Mrs Wolfe, as well as a bag of fruit.

The teenager has admitted being in a telephone box opposite the Co-op and following Mrs Wolfe before grabbing her bag but she denies using any force and said that after running off she turned round and Mrs Wolfe was still standing up before subsequently falling to the floor.

The Crown Prosecution Service put forward the argument that robbery was a grave crime, quoting from two previous cases in which defendants were sentenced to an average of three years for robbery using force.

Brian Irlam, defending, said there was going to be a major dispute on the facts as Mrs Wolfe was saying force had been used and the teenager denied it.

He said he believed the youth court had the power to sentence the girl, who had denied any intention to cause an injury to the woman, had not threatened her or used a weapon.

The chairman of the bench told the teenager: "We take an extremely serious view of this offence and we consider it to be a grave crime so are therefore going to send you to the crown court."

She was remanded in to local authority secure accommodation, where she has been since February 6.