AN elderly victim of a callous robber this week thanked two have-a-go heroes who helped to bring her attacker to justice.

The 84-year-old woman from Devizes spoke in the wake of the sentencing of Anthony Higson, who was jailed for the mugging in which she was left with a fractured pelvis and scared to go out of the house alone.

Higson, 33, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for seven-and-a-half years and told he would spend another two-and-a-half on extended licence.

The court heard how two young people, who themselves had criminal convictions, were so horrified by Higson’s actions that they helped police to capture him.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court: “It is noteworthy in this case that one of the principal witnesses was Scott Grant, a man not at all unfamiliar with the criminal justice system. He was appalled at what he had seen.”

Mr Meeke said Mr Grant first gave chase and when he lost him returned to the scene to tell the police what he saw, that he knew who did it and where to find him.

He then took police to the home of Higson’s girlfriend in Colston Road and, when she answered the door, anticipated he may make a break for it.

Mr Grant and Hayley Nutland went down the side of the house and, when the defendant jumped out of a window, they held him and handed him over to officers.

DC Jim Adams from Devizes CID said after the hearing that the victim was recovering well but still had a long way to go.

He said: “The victim wishes to remain anonymous, but also wants to send her thanks to all the passersby who stopped to help.

"Not only is she still in physical pain but she has been left too scared to go out of her home alone. She told the court, through her victim personal statement, that she had been left ‘haunted’ by what had happened.”

Mr Meeke told the court that as a result of the attack the victim spent just under four weeks in hospital before returning home.

He said what happened had changed her life and now feared going out alone, saying: "This whole incident had shaken me to the core".

Since being released from hospital she has struggled to sleep without a light on and finds it hard to concentrate, making reading books difficult.

Jailing Higson, Judge Peter Blair QC said: “She must plainly have appeared to you as being somebody who was vulnerable, both by her age and her movements, and you chose to try and rob her."

“The consequences, as you dragged her along the ground and she got caught up in her arm strap, holding on to it as best she could, is she then had a broken pelvis which for someone of that age is a very, very, serious injury.

“It led to her spending many weeks in hospital and since she has been released from hospital has dominated her life, in that she is unable to participate in the leisure activities that she use to enjoy.

“Now in the cold light of day you are sorry for what you did.”