A 28-year-old New Bedford man who followed an elderly woman home from the bank to violently assault and rob her was sentenced to serve four to seven years in state prison last Friday, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

Ejay Pierce pleaded guilty in Fall River Superior Court to indictments charging him with unarmed robbery and assault and battery on a person over the age of 60--causing serious bodily injury.

On December 21, 2020, the victim entered the New Bedford Credit Union on Purchase Street to make a $1,000 withdrawal from her account. The defendant, who had entered the bank a few moments after the victim approached the teller, watched as the teller counted out the $1,000 in cash for the victim.  At that point the defendant abruptly left the bank and was later seen on surveillance video quickly entering his vehicle.

Surveillance video also showed the defendant pull his vehicle to the side of Purchase Street to allow the victim to pass him.  The defendant then followed the victim to her New Bedford home, where he violently attacked her just outside her front door and robbed her of her purse.

During the assault, the 72-year-old female victim suffered a dislocated shoulder, torn rotator cuff, fractured collar bone and sever damage to her teeth.  As a result of the injuries, the victim had to undergo multiple surgeries, was forced to resign from her part time job at a local school and is required to undergo physical therapy on a regular basis.

In addition to the state prison sentence, Judge Raffi Yessayan also placed the defendant on an additional five years of supervised probation, which will include paying full restitution to the victim for the money stolen and mental health treatment.