AN elderly Stourport woman was terrified when a teenager accosted her in an alleyway and snatched her purse, Worcester Crown Court was told.

The 80-year-old woman had just visited the Post Office at Areley Kings but had only loose change in her purse, said Miss Samantha Crabb, prosecuting.

"She was left in a state of some distress," said Miss Crabb. Her assailant ran off and was not arrested until two days later.

Carl Chamberlain, 17, of no fixed address, was sentenced to 18 months detention after admitting robbery.

Miss Crabb said the robbery happened after Chamberlain had asked the woman for change for a £1 coin. He told police that he had thrown the purse away after spending the cash on cigarettes.

Chamberlain, who was under probation supervision for another offence, had been living rough with friends after leaving a foster family, said Mr Richard Bond, defending.

He had been on the child protection register since 1991 because he had been beaten on many occasions by his mother and her boyfriend.

He had led an aimless life and had left the foster home under suspicion of theft, which he denied.

Recorder Anthony Palmer QC said the street robbery of a pensioner would not be tolerated by the courts.