Motorcyclists swipe handbag in Gonville

A pair of people riding a dirt bike on the footpath in Gonville snatched a woman's handbag as they went past.

Boston Baker is one of the people who was on the bike on July 23. While he says he was a passenger, police say he was the driver.

Regardless, the 17-year-old pleaded guilty in the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday to theft from a person.

Police prosecutor Sergeant Drew Morrison said the pair were riding on the footpath on Abbot St with no helmets or protective gear.

They rode past the Gonville shops and did a u-turn in the carpark. Then, as they rode past the victim, one of the pair grabbed the purse out of her hand.

When spoken to by police, each blamed the other for the crime.

Defence lawyer Harete Hipango said Baker had no criminal history in the adult jurisdiction.

Judge Philip Crayton said the offending was a "one and only".

"You understand the effect on the victim as being quite significant. If Restorative Justice can be undertaken then is should be."

He remanded Baker to August 30 for sentencing and referred the matter to Restorative Justice.