A MUGGER told police he had "a daft moment" when he snatched an elderly woman's handbag containing her pension money.

Shaun Bate struck as the 77-year-old walked home from the post office and shops in Hartlepool, Teesside Crown Court heard.

He was yesterday jailed for 16 months by a judge who told him: "I would be failing in my duty if I did not send you away."

Bate's barrister, Paul Cleasby, had urged Judge Peter Bowers to consider passing a suspended prison sentence on the 21-year-old.

He argued that the probation service said it was willing to work with Bate, and he would benefit from work to tackle his drinking.

"Although he has settled in custody on remand, it is not something he is enjoying," Mr Cleasby said. "He is now more rational "He has committed a serious offence. He has brought shame upon himself and it has caused a great deal of embarrassment to him.

"But there are people in the community prepared to help him and he would be well-advised to take advantage of that."

Prosecutor Sue Jacobs told the court that Bate fled with the woman's bag containing £170, cigarettes, a mobile phone and cards.

The pensioner briefly chased him before a passer-by ran after him while calling the police with a description and location.

Bate was arrested an hour later and after initially denying the crime, he confessed to snatching the bag, saying: "It was a daft moment."

He pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing Class C drugs and yesterday admitted robbery and possessing Class C drugs - a pack of temazepam pills, found when he was detained.

Judge Bowers told Bate: "Anybody who attacks and elderly lady in the street and steals their handbag deserves immediate custody.

"I think you and your mother and other members of the public would feel I was failing in my duty if I didn't send you away today.

"It is made worse by the fact that at the time, you were affected by drink or drugs, and your record doesn't inspire me with any great confidence that you can keep yourself out of trouble."