Disabled vicar speaks out after baby-faced robbers aged 13 and 17 locked up for targeting her as she left church

A DISABLED vicar has told how she was left ''terrified'' after she was targeted by two teen carjackers after a church service.

One of the yobs boasted to his young accomplice "this is how you f****** do it" before opening Reverend Irene Wilson's car door and shouting at her to get out.

Rev Wilson, who has walked with a leg brace since a serious car accident 12 years ago, today described how the incident has affected her life, work and the lives of her family.

And she said she hoped others would join her in praying for the boy's future.

Jay Desborough, 17, and Leon Wrigglesworth, 13, who can now be identified after reporting restrictions were lifted, were jailed for two years and it was revealed the two had met in a court waiting room less than a week before the robbery.

In a statement read out at Hull Youth Court, East Yorks., on Tuesday, Rev Wilson outlined the effects the robbery has had on her and her family.

She said: "The incident not only affected myself and the work that I do, but also the lives of my family.

"My granddaughter will no longer come near the church and is having trouble sleeping.

"Her mother, who was on the phone to me at the time, is still traumatised and hurt by hearing my screams and not being able to respond.

"I'm a strong character because of my faith, but it's not good to relive the events each night when I'm trying to get to sleep.

"Do they realise just how frightening their aggressive behaviour was and how terrified it made me feel?"

Reverend Wilson was limping to her car with a crutch after holding Sunday morning service at Holy Trinity Church in Hull.

Desborough took the lead in the assault and boasted: "Watch this, this is how you f****** do it" before opening the vicar's car door and shouting at her to get out, while Wrigglesworth looked on before the pair drove off.

During her statement, Rev Wilson spoke directly to both boys and urged them to get help while in detention.

"Although many people have expressed their negative thoughts about the culprits, I have at all times tried to understand what brought them to do this to someone who was only trying to help others wherever possible.

"I've asked that those who pray for me also pray for the two young men, that they will make a positive decision and move away from a life of crime."

She added: "And can I just say to you, whatever sentence you're serving, please take on board any education and help that can be offered, it's never too late to change, we're all God's children, please do something about it now."

The CPS had presented the case as a disability hate crime, claiming Rev Wilson was targeted because she was an elderly female walking with a crutch.

However, despite Desborough pleading guilty to robbery and Wrigglesworth being found guilty of robbery after a trial, they both denied any planning.

Prosecuting, Sally Robinson told the court that the attack had caused "significant psychological harm" to Rev Wilson.

She said: "One of the most distressing aspects was that, because she has a disability, she has a leg brace on and was wearing it and would have been visible to anyone who would see her walking.

"She didn't get her crutch back. She relied on that to walk. There has been significant psychological harm on Reverend Wilson."

Mitigating for Desborough, Robin Smith described the boys as "two misguided young people".

Mr Smith said: "These are two misguided young people who were both on bail, who were both hanging about, messing around.

"I don't think it would have mattered who it was. They were determined on a brief conversation that they would take a car.

"She was not deliberately targeted. Unfortunately the Reverend Wilson happened to be the victim."

The car, which contained Rev Wilson's handbag, £250 in cash, credit cards, an Apple Mac laptop and church keys, was later recovered by police and all items, apart from the keys and money, were returned.

Chris Farr, defending Wrigglesworth - who is the subject of a Crminal Behaviour Order - described him as a "damaged and immature" boy.

He said he has issues relating to his background which have played a part in his "appalling" behaviour.

Speaking about the robbery, Mr Farr said: "He took no part in the physical act at all, he was some five to ten meters away when that took place.

"As soon as the vehicle was taken he ran in the opposite direction. He was later asked to get in and he did so."

Desborough was sentenced to two years in a detention and training centre. He was also sentenced to 12 months for possession of an offensive weapon with intent - an offence not related to the robbery and four months for a public order offence. Both will run concurrently.

Wrigglesworth was sentenced to a total of two years in a detention and training centre, with a 12 month sentence for the robbery and a further 12 months for other offences, including actual bodily harm, dangerous driving and breach of his Community Order. These will run consecutively.

A spokesman for the CPS said: "This is a shocking attack carried out in broad daylight on a respected community figure.

"The sentence handed down today sends out a clear message that this type of criminality will be punished with the full force of the law.

"Our thoughts remain with Rev Wilson as she continues to recover from the effects of this crime."