Footage has emerged of the moment a 92-year-old woman was dragged along the ground during a "devastating" robbery.

The woman was heading to a GP surgery in Hackney, east London, when she was followed by a man who made a grab at her handbag from behind.

Video released by police shows the thief pulling the elderly victim to the floor and dragging her along the ground, before escaping with her belongings.

Detectives said the woman, who recently lost her husband of 70 years, was in so much pain she eventually let go of her bag.

Image: Police described the robbery as 'horrific'

Detective inspector Paul Ridley, from Hackney CID, said: "I have been involved in many serious cases, however the devastating psychological trauma of this victim is possibly the worse I have encountered.


"I cannot comprehend how anyone could target a frail lady in her 90s using this amount of violence, it is truly horrific.

"We have clear CCTV of the attacker. All I need is a name. There are a team of officers on standby ready to arrest him."

Officers said the woman's handbag contained a mobile phone worth £50, £100 cash and a travel pass.

Image: The suspect is described as a black man with short black hair

The thief struck at around 2.40pm on Tuesday as the woman walked to Lawson Medical Centre on Nuttall Street.

The suspect, described as a black man with short black hair and wearing a blue hoodie, ran into the alleyway by the surgery and turned right, heading north, on Hoxton Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.