A MUGGER on a bike who tried to grab a woman's purse after riding up behind her told police: "I was just trying to make some money for Christmas."

David Mohan's victim was walking down an alley close to Stockton town centre and was about to go into a beauticians salon when the 46-year-old struck.

The brave woman refused to let go, and in a tug-of-war she was dragged to the ground, prosecutor Sue Jacobs told Teesside Crown Court.

Mohan rode off empty-handed when she screamed to attract attention, but she chased him and he was later picked up by police, and he immediately confessed.

Duncan McReddie, mitigating, told the court: "Perhaps the only saving grace, and this is not attributable to the defendant, is that there was no loss.

"As he said himself, it was an outlandish and shameful attempt to acquire some money when he had none . . . it is an opportunistic offence.

"Had there been targeting or planning, it may well have been effected more readily, but this has all the hallmarks of a fairly impromptu approach."

In a statement, the victim said: "The whole incident had left me angry and violated, and left me wondering why I should be a victim of this crime.

"I went to have a relaxing treatment to treat myself before Christmas, and needless to say it was not relaxing at all after what had happened."

Mohan, of Ashbourne Road, Stockton, was jailed for 18 months after he pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted robbery from December 19 last year.

The court heard he was on a community order at the time, for following his ex-partner through the streets, throwing her to the ground and punching her.

The judge, Recorder Michael Slater, told him: "That was an attempt to help you, and it involved an alcohol treatment requirement, for one of your problems.

"Given that chance, you went on to commit this attempted robbery . . . this offence is an extremely serious one and can only be met with custody."