A DRUG user who grabbed a woman's handbag in Stourport has been warned he faces custody when he is sentenced at Worcester Crown Court next month.

Judge Andrew Geddes told 24-year-old Darren Farmer: "Bag snatching offences are very common. You should prepare yourself for prison because you will almost certainly be going there."

Farmer, of Broach Meadow, Stourport, who pleaded guilty to robbery, was remanded on bail for a pre-sentence report.

The court heard that Mrs Hazel Silwood had her bag stolen on July 25 last year. Farmer had always admitted the theft but had disputed the amount of violence used, said Martin Butterworth, defending.

It was an uncharacteristic offence and since then he had been receiving treatment for his drug habit.

Farmer, who had four previous convictions, the last of which was five years ago, was not "a feckless drug addict," said Mr Butterworth.

It was a spur-of-the-moment offence which caused no injury. Farmer had a stable domestic situation with his mother and girlfriend and accepted that custody was inevitable.