Sanchez Edwards, who attacked a 92 year old woman after escaping from a mental health unit

A mugger who dragged a 92 year old woman along the pavement after escaping from a mental health unit has been jailed.

Sanchez Edwards, 28, targeted recently-widowed Gladys Scriven, in broad daylight as she was out posting a letter.

She is now too terrified to leave her house following the horrific attack in Hoxton, north London.

Graphic pictures released by police revealed the 'appalling' injuries she suffered in the terrifying ordeal.

Edwards, a paranoid schizophrenic of no fixed address with a history of drug abuse, was sentenced to five years and eight months behind bars at Wood Green Crown Court today.

He had pleaded guilty at the same court last August to one count of robbery and has been remanded in custody since then.

Sentencing Edwards, Judge Joanna Greenburg told him: 'You cannot have failed to realise she was elderly.

'She was dragged for two metres. You then ran off.

'The CCTV shows you have followed her, clearly targeting her as she was elderly. The offence is so serious that an immediate custodial sentence is the only option.'

Edwards had three previous convictions for robbery, the court heard.

Judge Greenburg also said that there was a significant risk Edwards would commit further offences and cause serious physical or physiological harm to one or more people

In a harrowing victim impact statement, the victim explained how she was now too afraid to leave her house after the incident and lost her independence.

She suffers re-occurring nightmares and still cannot sleep on her left side due to the pain. She described herself as 'a shadow of her former self'.

Mr Edwards (left) pictured just before the attack and (right) the injuries to the 92-year-old victim who was left covered in bruises

The victim had recently lost her husband, to whom she had been married for 68 years and served in the Royal Navy. She had been his carer for the last 10 years.

Edwards attacked the frail pensioner in Hoxton Street in broad daylight at about 2.40pm on the afternoon of June 27 last year.

She had just been to post a letter and had turned into an alleyway that leads to a medical centre.

But Edwards had followed her from the street into the alleyway. As she entered the grounds of the unit she was attacked from behind.

He grabbed her handbag and made several attempts to pull it away from her, forcing her to the ground.

The victim screamed and refused to let go of her bag and Edwards dragged her along the floor until she was in so much pain that she eventually let go.

Edwards then ran back into the alleyway and made off.

The victim suffered bruising all over her body, and was left with several cracked ribs. Edwards was named by several people as being the attacker.

Hackney CID launched a major investigation to find him and labelled him 'dangerous.'

A grab from CCTV showing Mr Edwards approach his victim from behind before he pounces

The video then shows the mugger running away with his victim lying helpless on the floor

It was established that Edwards was a patient at the medium-secure John Howard psychiatric facility in Hackney.

He had failed to return from unescorted leave from the centre on May 17 last year despite having assaulted a member of staff there.

Edwards was found to be using buses and travelling through London Underground Stations across London.

A Crimestoppers reward was secured for information leading to his capture and images were released from various sightings in a bid to warn the public not to approach him. The case also featured on the BBC's Crimewatch programme.

On July 10, officers spotted Edwards in the Bethnal Green area of east London.

But when Edwards saw the police he ran off, but he was chased down and detained.

The police have released CCTV showing Edwards stalking his victim before he attacked her and then making off from the scene. Her handbag and contents were never recovered.

'The lady has lived her entire life unscathed, yet Edwards' brutal and callous actions have destroyed this in an instant Detective Inspector Paul Ridley

Detective Inspector Paul Ridley, of Hackney CID, said: 'This has been an extremely emotive case with scores of officers working relentlessly to identify and hunt down this dangerous attacker.

'The lady has lived her entire life unscathed, yet Edwards' brutal and callous actions have destroyed this in an instant.'

He added: 'Edwards can be seen prowling behind the unsuspecting victim for around 15 minutes, transfixed and waiting for his opportunity to strike away from the busy streets, and then without warning, hauls the terrified victim to the ground, dragging her along the pavement with such force that he inflicts appalling injuries.

'At no time throughout these proceedings has he ever offered an explanation for his actions, taken responsibility or shown any empathy or compassion towards the victim.

The judge also imposed an order under the Mental Health Act, and he will remain in a hospital under the supervision of hospital staff.

Doctors will decide when the restriction will cease and he will then serve the remainder of his sentence in prison.

The judge also imposed an extended three years' on licence after he completes his sentence.