A ROBBER who dragged an 82-year-old partially-sighted Newport woman along the floor as she tried to hold on to her handbag was jailed.

Recorder Catherine Brown told Newport Crown Court it was only by chance pensioner Brenda Hampton was not seriously injured in the attack while she was returning from a shopping trip on December 30 last year.

Colin Hoggins, 45, of Clytha Square, Newport, pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery at an earlier hearing.

His second victim was 62-year-old Jacqueline Miller.

Prosecutor David Thomas said both women were returning home from Asda, Pill, when they were targeted by Hoggins.

Mr Thomas said on the first occasion, retired nurse Ms Hampton went to the supermarket with her friend.

The court heard as she reached her home Hoggins was outside and asked for directions.

Mr Thomas said as she lifted her hand to show him the way Hoggins tried to wrestle her handbag, containing £58 cash, stamps, bank cards and an inhaler from her.

The court heard the pensioner kept hold of the strap but during the struggle, she fell to the floor, was dragged along for eight to ten feet and hit her head against a gate.

Mr Thomas said the elderly victim's friend threw his walking stick at Hoggins, who fled with the bag.

Ms Hampton's leg was left badly bruised by the incident and the court heard it made her feel "sick."

Ms Miller, Hoggins' second victim, was walking home on January 13 when the defendant told her he did not know the road was a dead end.

The court heard he grabbed the woman's shopping bag which split, causing her purse to fall to the floor.

Hoggins pushed the victim in the face, grabbed her purse and ran off.

A man came out of a nearby house, chased Hoggins, tripped him up and was able to retrieve the purse, but Ms Hampton did not get any of her belongings back.

Defence counsel Hashim Salman said his client was ashamed of his actions.

Mr Salman said Hoggins needed money to fund a heroin addiction but has made progress while awaiting sentence.

Sentencing Hoggins to concurrent terms of 16 months for each offence, Recorder Brown told him: "I am in no doubt you left her (Ms Hampton) and your other victim afraid of going about their business."