A woman of 92 was left battered and bruised on the ground after being mugged near her home, a jury heard.

Great-grandmother Millie Kershaw suffered a broken hip and wrist when she was knocked over by a bag snatcher yards from her house near Seven Dials in Brighton.

Andrew Bowcott, 39, of no fixed address, has denied robbing the widow at a trial at Lewes Crown Court.

The court heard Mrs Kershaw, who uses a walking stick, was on her way home after a shopping trip in London Road when she was attacked in Hamilton Road on May 7 last year.

A man, who she did not see, grabbed her shopping bag, which contained £2, a bottle of wine, a jar of glace cherries, potatoes and a copy of The Argus.

At first she thought it was a neighbour who intended to carry the bag home for her. But then she realised someone was trying to steal it. She let go and was pulled over as her attacker snatched the bag.

She was found lying on the pavement soon afterwards by passers-by. She was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton where she had surgery for her fractures.

She also suffered bruises and cuts to her arms and hands and her glasses were smashed.

Mrs Kershaw did not appear in court but a statement she made to police was read to the jury.

She said: "Suddenly I was aware someone had got hold of my bag and was yanking hard. I cannot describe him at all. It was pulled from my wrist and the force was enough to pull me to the ground.

"I think I hit my head on a parked car. I could not see him but I could hear the sound of running feet. I tried to get up but I could not move. I was in great pain. I felt very helpless."

The court heard a month later, Bowcott's former girlfriend Victoria Bedford, 25, told police he was to blame.

Giving evidence through a camera link to the court, Ms Bedford said the couple had set off from their flat in Osborne Road to walk into the city centre to go begging to raise cash to buy drugs when he suddenly ran off.

She saw Bowcott follow an elderly woman into New England Road. She decided to follow him.

She said: "I got a bit suspicious. He was hanging around and looking dodgy.

"I saw an old lady. He wanted me to do it and I didn't want to. He just kept saying 'You do it.' I said 'No.' I just could not believe he did it."

She said Bowcott disappeared into Hamilton Road.

She said: "I heard a scream and it all happened so quick. Seconds later he ran back around the corner. He had the bag in his hand."

She said they ran together into Ann Street where they went through the contents of the bag.

She said he was annoyed when he opened Mrs Kershaw's purse to find only £2 inside.

She said: "He just put the money in his pocket. He sat down on a bench and drank the wine."

She said he gave her the bag and she threw it in the nearest bin.

She said: "I was angry and scared. I just wanted to get rid of it."

During cross-examination, Ms Bedford admitted she had been a heroin addict at the time of the robbery and both their lives revolved around begging and buying drugs.

She admitted having a previous conviction for stealing a handbag.

When asked by David Lyons, defending Bowcott, why she had not told the police immediately or why she had not seen if the screaming woman was all right, she replied: "I was in a difficult situation."

The trial continues.