A MUGGER who repeatedly punched a disabled woman in the face in a bid to steal her handbag told police after she was caught: "I wish I wasn't so violent."

Sarah Miller wept in court today (Thursday, June 18) as she was jailed for 16 months for the attempted robbery on the High Street in Stockton on April 27 this year.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the heroin addict had barely been in trouble before she violently tried to wrestle the bag from the 63-year-old.

Her barrister Duncan McReddie described it as "a dramatic escalation in the type of offending" of a 27-year-old whose last crime had been shoplifting.

When the victim clung onto her bag, Miller punched her in the face but fled when workers from a nearby coffee shop saw what was happening and ran to help.

The four members of staff found the woman bleeding heavily from her face, and other passer-by told police where the attacker had scarpered to.

When officers caught up with Miller near a jewellers on nearby Bishopton Lane, she said: "I wish wasn't violent. Is she ok? I shouldn't have done it."

Mr McReddie told the court: "There was an immediate admission and expression of remorse, which serves to reinforce this was entirely out of character.

"Miss Miller can offer no real explanation as to why she did it other than she was looking for money for drugs. It was, for her, a piece of abortive behaviour."

The victim was taken to hospital with suspected fractures, said prosecutor Harry Hadfield, but was found to have swelling and bruising only.

She said in an impact statement: "I'm not very wealthy and I do not have things that can be stolen. I am nervous about going out on my own now.

"The lady was unsuccessful in stealing anything from me probably due to the intervention of the women who came to my aid. It has affected me greatly."

Miller, of Vicarage Street, Stockton, sobbed and shook in the dock as closed circuit television footage of the 7.30pm incident was shown to the court.

She admitted attempted robbery, and was told by Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC: "You picked on somebody who you knew to be old and vulnerable.

"You may not have known the extent of her disability, but you made a determined effort to take her handbag . . . I cannot overlook this type of offending."