A FAMILY man from Boars Hill robbed a woman on the street and raided a betting shop after the breakdown of his marriage.

Graham Wirdnam, who had lived with his wife, daughter and four horses during a 21-year marriage, fell in love with a cocaine user who “completely took over his mind”, a judge heard.

The 48-year-old and his new love robbed a lone woman on the street before raiding the Betfred shop in Cinnaminta Road, Headington, a judge was told.

He was sentenced to 12 months in jail at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday having admitted two robberies. His accomplice, named in court as Charlene Taylor, has not been charged.

The court heard Wirdnam, of Cumnor Road, Boars Hill, split from his wife in 2011 and fell in love with Miss Taylor.

Prosecutor Alistair Grainger said the first offence took place on the night of December 30 when Zemzem Abdul Rahman was walking home from work in Between Towns Road, Cowley.

He said a man and a woman ran at her before Wirdnam “grabbed her from behind and used his arm to place her in a neck hold”.

As the victim struggled to breathe the woman grabbed her handbag and the pair made off in a silver car.

Miss Rahman’s phone and wallet were taken in the raid and her card was later used to withdraw £470. The following day, Wirdnam and a female accomplice barged past Helen Young as she opened the Headington bookies at about 8.20am.

Mr Grainger said Wirdnam “pushed her against a pillar using his right arm to her throat” before the pair forced the manager to open the safe, taking £300.

Ximena Jones, defending, said her client had lived a law-abiding life until the break up of his marriage, after which he was introduced to cocaine by Miss Taylor, whom she said was “known to the courts”.

She said: “He was aware she wanted to commit these robberies with Rikki Brackett, who has 105 previous offences.

“When Mr Brackett went to jail, Charlene Taylor turned her attention on to him and started to essentially repeatedly request and ask him to help her.

“He understands that’s no explanation and no excuse, and what he has done is appalling.”

Miss Jones said Wirdnam, who has refused to name his accomplice to police, was “besotted” with Miss Taylor and she “completely took over his mind”.

Judge Gordon Risius said the offence was “entirely out of character” and he was willing to take an “exceptional” course in jailing Wirdnam for a year.

He also ordered he pay £1,000 costs and a total £1,700 compensation to the victims.