A pensioner leapt into action and chased after a robber who attacked her daughter and knocked her to the ground in Stroud, a court heard.

Caroline Hill, 71, had been out for a meal on March 23 last year with daughter Rachel Hill, 48, and they were walking along Middle Street, Stroud, after midnight when two men wearing hoodies approached from the other direction, Gloucester Crown Court was told.

One of the men, Levi Walker, 19, of Parliament Street, Stroud, demanded Rachel's bag. She refused and hit him with her umbrella but he then produced a knife, took the bag and knocked her over

Mrs Caroline Hill told the jury that both men then ran off, and she chased after them.

She was asked by Mr McAllister's defence lawyer, Jason Coulter, if they 'outran her'. “Yes,” she replied. “It's pretty obvious.”

Walker has admitted the robbery and will be sentenced on February 28 while Mr McAllister was cleared.