A man accused of mugging a 92-year-old woman for £2 told police he was not to blame, a court heard.

Andrew Bowcott denied he carried out the street attack on Millie Kershaw, who was seriously injured, when he was questioned by detectives.

Mrs Kershaw, a great-grandmother, fell to the ground when a man snatched her shopping bag in May last year in Hamilton Road, Brighton, yards from her home. The frail widow suffered a broken hip and wrist, cuts and bruises and her glasses were smashed.

The court heard how Mrs Kershaw, who did not see her attacker, was left lying bleeding and in pain and unable to move until passers-by found her and called an ambulance.

Her stolen bag contained £2 in cash, a bottle of wine, a jar of cherries, Jersey potatoes and a copy of The Argus.

Bowcott, 39, of no fixed address, has denied a charge of robbery at a trial at Lewes Crown Court.

The jury has heard how Bowcott was arrested after his ex-girlfriend Victoria Bedford informed police he carried out the attack to get cash to feed his heroin habit.

In a recorded interview with the police, which was read out in court, Bowcott denied committing the robbery. He said he had a stormy relationship with Miss Bedford, who also had a drug problem at the time, and she was blaming him because she was vindictive and wanted to cause trouble.

He said: "I have got nothing to do with it. I have no idea why she is saying I did it.

"She has made my life hell. She is a spiteful, nasty woman. She is a real vicious lady. She has accused me of all sorts of things."

He told police on the day of the attack he would have been in the city centre begging to get money to buy drugs. He suggested Miss Bedford may have pointed the finger of blame at him because she was trying to protect the real robber or she may have carried out the crime herself.

Earlier Miss Bedford, 25, who admitted she had a previous conviction for stealing a woman's handbag, told the jury she was with Bowcott when he followed Mrs Kershaw as she walked home after a shopping trip in London Road.

She said she saw him follow the pensioner into Hamilton Road and then heard a scream before he reappeared running and carrying a bag.

She said they went together to Ann Street where he sat on a bench and drank the wine.

The jury was told Bowcott would not be giving evidence at the trial. David Lyons, defending, said the defence would not call any evidence.

The jury is expected to retire today to consider its verdict.

The trial continues.