A FATHER-of-two who snatched a pensioner's handbag as she did her shopping has been jailed for 30 months.

Heroin addict Jonathan Symes knocked his victim to the ground as he took her bag leaving her injured and too frightened to return to the street where the attack happened.

The 27-year-old had been in Westbury town centre looking for a bag to take when he spotted Ann Barnfield-Jones, Swindon Crown Court was told.

Nick Hawkins, prosecuting, said the victim, a woman in her 60s, was walking down the hill in Edward Street after doing her shopping on the afternoon of February 5 when she was attacked.

He said: "She felt a bang in the centre of her back and she was pushed with force to the ground. At that point she realised her bag was being taken."

As she tumbled forwards, she put her left hand out to break her fall but still smashed her face on the pavement before her attacker fled with her bag.

Mr Hawkins said: "A public-spirited passer-by, Ashley McKay, who is a salesman, saw what was happening and gave chase shouting at Mr Symes as he went. Mr Symes dropped the bag as he ran, and it was recovered.

"Another member of the public was there and recognised Mr Symes.

"Police went to his house and when they got there they asked him if he knew why they were there. He replied 'It's about that old lady, isn't it? I didn't realise she was that old.'"

Mr Hawkins said the victim later told how her teeth had changed colour as a result of the injuries, she had a pain in her left hand and her arthritis had deteriorated.

He said: "More significantly she has not had a night's sleep since and often worries about it. She has not been to Edward Street since and only been to Westbury once."

"When interviewed by police what he said was consistent with what she said. He said he had been looking for bags and for whatever reason decided hers would be the one he would snatch."

He said Symes, who has a string of previous convictions including thefts and house burglaries, showed remorse for what he had done.

At a previous hearing Symes, of Willow Grove, Westbury, pleaded guilty to one count of robbery.

Peter Blair, defending, said his client had expressed strong remorse for what he had done and had no wish to cause any injury to his victim.

He said that Symes suffered psychotic episodes as he was not taking his medication for schizophrenia and abusing heroin at the time of the offence.

While in custody, he said that Symes had managed to detoxify and was on new medication which limited his mental health problems.

Jailing him Judge Charles Wade said "I am sure you understand what a wicked thing it is to snatch a handbag from an elderly and vulnerable person in the street.

"You appeared to pick on this lady. Whether or not you knew her age, she was in town and she was on her own. You caused her to cut her hand and damage teeth.

"She also had other injuries and suffered a significant and great trauma from this street mugging.

"In fact she still suffers. She can't sleep properly and won't go back to the street where you did this."