'Olympic' pickpocket jailed to protect Games visitors

A Pickpocket of "Olympic capacity" has been jailed for three years to stop him blighting the London Games.

Steve Noel, 44, who has 67 theft convictions spanning three decades, was caught on CCTV preying on women Tube passengers five days after being released from prison.

On April 24, he was filmed at Camden Tube station stealing from library assistant Christine Comas after bumping into her as she passed through a ticket barrier and then using a coat and a plastic bag to cover up his hand as he took bar worker Corinne Stritter's purse from her shoulder bag.

Then on May 23, Noel stole £140 cash and a silver cross from an elderly woman's bag at Baker Street, Southwark crown court heard.

Noel, of Lewisham, admitted two thefts, and asked for a similar offence and a breach of an Anti-social Behaviour Order to be taken into consideration.

He asked Judge Peter Clarke for "a chance". But the judge turned him down, saying: "We have the prospect of you being on the streets during the Olympics. You're going to have a field day and you're going to ruin people's visit to this country. You are a pickpocket of Olympic capacity."