A robber who targeted an 89-year-old woman in a Wolverhampton park for £12 was beginning a four-year jail sentence today.

Daniel Fitzpatrick, aged 22, left his victim bleeding on the ground after snatching her handbag with such force that she spun and fell to the floor.

The pensioner suffered life-changing injuries requiring a major hip operation and several blood transfusions following the robbery, which happened in Northwood Park, on September 4.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard yesterday that she was unlikely to regain her independence and had been left fearful of further attacks.

The handbag was later recovered from bins near Fitzpatrick’s home in Primrose Avenue, Bushbury.

CCTV cameras captured him riding his bike in the area at the time of the crime, the court was told.

Drug addict Fitzpatrick gained £12 from the robbery and was yesterday jailed for four years, with a minimum time in prison of two years.

The pensioner’s family today criticised the sentence, claiming that it was too short.

They revealed that the victim, who has twice beaten cancer, was unlikely to recover fully.

Recorder Abigail Nixon told Fitzpatrick he had specifically targeted his victim because he knew she was frail and unable to fight him off.

She told him he had carried out a “cowardly” attack and “left her bleeding on the floor”, adding that he should be ashamed of his actions.

The pensioner’s niece Vicki Bailey, 63, from Kidderminster, said today: “We were hoping for the maximum seven years.

“To think he could be out of prison in two years is upsetting.

“Until this happened, she was managing very well and was fiercely independent,” she added.

“It has impacted on her quite badly, and we really don’t know if she will ever go back home. She is fearful of going back because she is worried about being attacked again.”

Mrs Bailey said that her aunt had beaten cancer a year ago – as well as 30 years earlier.

She said: “We got her through that, and then this happened.”

Mr Richard Quinn, defending, said that Fitzpatrick struck after he and his family were threatened by a drug dealer for a £35 debt.

He said Fitzpatrick accepted what he had done, adding that he was “extremely remorseful”.

West Midlands Police today refused to give the Express & Star a photograph of the robber after carrying out a “risk assessment”.