A ST BUDEAUX man robbed a widow of 87, leaving her battered and bloodied on the ground, a jury has decided.

The local woman, who walks with a stick, lost her balance when drugged-up Craig Cudmore ran up behind her and snatched her shopping bag containing her handbag and purse.

She fell face-forward, suffering cuts and bruises and a 4cm cut on her top lip which had to be stitched, as well as broken glasses and a ruined hearing-aid.

The jury of six men and six women at Plymouth Crown Court yesterday took just one hour to unanimously convict Cudmore, aged 20 and of Chard Road, of robbery.

Two pieces of evidence proved crucial: Cudmore's DNA found on the bag, which was dumped in a nearby garden, and testimony from former friend Paul Huttle.

He told the jury that Cudmore was with him about a week after the robbery when they passed the crime scene and Cudmore suddenly blurted out that he had taken the bag.

Cudmore yesterday took the stand in his own defence.

Questioned by his own barrister Malcolm Clarke, he admitted he had previous convictions for shoplifting and for handling stolen goods.

He also admitted twice changing his story to the police, but insisted that while walking to Tesco some time after 3pm on February 5, he had spotted the blue bag at a bus stop.

Failing to find anything inside which would identify the owner, he left it where it was, he said.

He categorically denied confessing to Mr Huttle and when asked: "Were you involved in the robbery of that old lady?", replied: "No."

Mr Clarke described the robbery as "a despicable, cowardly attack on a vulnerable victim", but said the key question was if his client was the robber.

Cross-examined by prosecutor Christopher Bennett, unemployed Cudmore agreed he was hundreds of pounds in debt because he bought drugs including mephedrone, a class B drug known as 'bubble'.

Told that the woman's purse contained a bus pass and bank card with her name on them, he replied: "I didn't see any ID."

Mr Bennett pointed out that police failed to find the bag when they searched the scene 30 minutes before Cudmore said he saw it at the bus stop.

Judge Francis Gilbert QC ordered a pre-sentence report from the Probation Service because Cudmore suffers from disabilities including ADHD and Asperger's, a form of autism.

He granted him conditional bail until January 21 but warned him: "This was a nasty and serious offence and immediate custody is likely."

Outside the court, Det Con Rebecca Whatmore of Crownhill CID said: "I am delighted with the result, which I am sure will be welcome news for the victim and help to restore her confidence to get out and about and continue with her life.

"I would also like to thank the witness for being willing to come forward in difficult circumstances; it shows how sickened all parts of the community are about this type of vicious and cowardly attack."