A PASSER-BY leapt into action when he witnessed an elderly woman being robbed in the street, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Keith Galloway gave chase catching the 26-year-old female robber who was later arrested by police.

Yesterday, Faith Oliver, of St Peter's Road, Stockton was jailed for 15 months after admitting robbing the pensioner.

Shaun Dryden, prosecting, described how on March 20 an elderly woman had been shopping in Norton High Street when she was approached by Oliver who made a grab for her purse.

There had, he said, been a brief struggle with Oliver eventually getting hold of the purse and running off.

The incident, was witnessed by passer-by Mr Galloway, who gave chase and stopped Oliver in an alleyway and "frog marched" her back to the victim who had called for the police.

Oliver had told Mr Galloway that she had taken the purse because she was starving and wanted some food.

Nigel Soppitt, defending, told the court that Oliver had been addicted to heroin and had been living with a man with a similar habit.

He had, he said taken all her money and left her penniless and three days before the offence had given her a "good hiding" resulting in her ending up in hospital.

When she was discharged she was living rough and was desperate for a warm drink and food, said Mr Soppitt.

He said she was remorseful about taking the elderly woman's purse, but it had been an opportunistic offence by a young woman who had now given up drugs and hoped to be reunited with her two children.

Jailing Oliver for 15 months Judge Michael Taylor said it had been a targeted robbery on a 76-year-old vulnerable woman.