A man has been charged over the theft of a handbag in Bridlington – but CCTV footage reveals he did not snatch it from its elderly owner, as suspected.

Pamela Roddis, 73, from Sheffield, was staying in Bridlington when a cyclist stole her bag, containing £300 and a Nokia mobile phone, outside the Gala Club in the Promenade on Sunday, January 26.

Ms Roddis died of a brain haemorrhage last Thursday, and Humberside Police said the “stress and upset” of the theft may have played a part in her health deteriorating.

But Detective Sergeant Tom Napier, of Bridlington Priority Crime Team, said yesterday: “CCTV footage showed the bag being dropped onto the ground, then a short time later a male is seen to pick up the bag from the ground.

He made off in possession of the stolen bag. At no time did the female victim and the male offender have any physical contact with one another.”

Yesterday, a man handed himself into police over the incident, after an appeal was launched and CCTV images released.

DS Napier said: “A 32-year-old local man handed himself in at Bridlington Police Station. He has been interviewed and charged with theft of the handbag and contents. He has been bailed to appear at Bridlington Magistrates Court on February 19. The handbag has since been recovered by police.”