A 26-YEAR-old woman has been jailed for three years for attacking a pensioner while trying to steal her handbag.

Bolton Crown Court heard how Mrs Sheila Thomasson, aged 70, bravely refused to let go of her handbag after being attacked in the street by Keely Patton.

Mrs Thomasson was dragged across the pavement and then repeatedly hit over the head.

But, despite the ferocity of the attack by Patton, she clung on to her bag, suffering bruises and a split lip.

The court heard yesterday that Patton eventually ran off leaving her terrified victim on the ground. When police arrested her she claimed she had been trying to help the pensioner and not rob her.

Mrs Thomasson is now too frightened to leave the house without her husband, the court heard.

Prosecutor Lisa Boocock said the attack happened last September as Mrs Thomasson was walking near the Ainsworth Arms in Ainsworth. She felt a tug from behind and turned round to see Patton trying to pull her bag from her shoulders.

Patton, a heroin addict, of Freckleton Drive, Bury, was jailed for three years for attempted robbery. She admitted the charge.

Jailing Patton, Judge Brian Carter QC told her: "What you did to this elderly lady was disgraceful."

She was older rather than younger than you and you deliberately targeted her."

Addict jailed

for attack

on pensioner