Wayne Eugene Smith, 28, admitted in Magistrates' Court stealing a handbag from Charlene Donna Gilbert, causing her bodily harm and causing wilful damage to the handbag.

Prosecuting, Insp. Peter Duffy said Smith had been living in a derelict truck in the grounds of a garage in Hamilton.

The theft occurred after Gilbert had parked her car on Victoria Street while on a grocery shopping trip last Wednesday at 7.20 p.m.

Insp. Duffy said: "She had her nephew with her, and she was about to cross the street. Smith approached her and grabbed the handbag.'' "Gilbert tried to pull the handbag back but Smith was pulling in the opposite direction. The nephew was standing on the sidewalk very upset by the whole ordeal.'' Insp. Duffy added: "Smith finally got the handbag and ran away. He then realised he was running in the wrong direction and turned around 180 degrees and ran back.

"As he tried to run past her she grabbed him. Her shoes came off in the struggle. She had a hold on his torso but she fell to the street. She managed to grab his legs, but he carried on running and dragged her along the street.'' Gilbert suffered cuts to her legs, feet, body and wrists.

Smith escaped with her expensive handbag, wallet, three pairs of ear-rings and perfume, worth a total of $545.

He later discovered that there was nothing of value for him in the bag and threw it away. It was found by students from Dellwood School.

Smith was arrested two days later and appeared in court this week.

After his arrest he told Police that he had fallen on hard times and had committed the crime on the spur of the moment.

A single man, Smith was deported after committing a "serious offence'' in Texas some years ago, according to Insp. Duffy.

Duty counsel Ms Elizabeth Christopher pointed out that the conviction which resulted in his deportation from the United States was unconnected.

Ms Christopher said: "He has just not been able to reintegrate himself in Bermudian society. He has some family here but he has not been able to get along with them since he returned.'' Senior Magistrate the Wor. Will Francis ordered a social inquiry to be prepared, before passing sentence.