A 25-year-old man has been jailed for three years for mugging an 80-year-old woman in the street.

Morten Markey dragged Jean Bottomley over and left her laying on the ground when he tried to seize her bag.

The pensioner was attacked after drawing money from her local post office, Bradford Crown Court heard today.

Markey pleaded guilty to attempted robbery in Oakworth Road, Keighley, on February 8.

Prosecutor Nigel Hamilton told the court Mrs Bottomley was targeted at 11am as she walked down a steep hill from the post office.

Markey, of Oakworth Road, pounced from behind, grabbing Mrs Bottomley’s hand in a bid to steal her bag.

She held on and was pulled to the ground, suffering bruised ribs.

Markey ran off as members of the public hurried to help her.

Film of the incident, played in the courtroom, showed the pensioner lying motionless on the pavement as passers-by gathered round.

The footage showed Markey lurking on the street before the mugging and watching another elderly woman as she got into her car.

Mr Hamilton said members of the public chased after Markey and saw him go into his home nearby.

He was arrested shortly afterwards after changing his clothes.

A paramedic attended to Mrs Bottomley and she was treated in Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The court heard that she was too traumatised to leave her home for almost a month and was now constantly uneasy when out and about.

Markey’s solicitor, Ray Singh, said his client was addicted to drugs.

His social security benefit had been stopped and his girlfriend was pregnant at the time.

He was not stalking elderly people but decided Mrs Bottomley was an easy target.

Markey knew he was going to jail and wanted to rid himself of drugs and get his life back on track.

The judge, Recorder Mark Cran QC, branded it “a very unpleasant street robbery”.

He praised Mrs Bottomley as “robust in spirit” but said she was physically frail and had been left traumatised.

After the case, Detective Inspector John Preistley said: “This was a nasty attack on a vulnerable member of our community and we are pleased this individual has received the sentence he has been given by the courts.”