A WOMAN who attacked her 72-year-old friend, smashing his head off a wall and stealing £20 from his pocket, has been jailed.

Susan Howarth, 46, of Hollingreave Road, Burnley, was drinking pals with Gerard Perkins before she set upon him outside a shop in the town.

Preston Crown Court heard Mr Perkins had been into Clarence News in Oxford Road and asked the newsagent to call the police.

Before the shopkeeper could help the pensioner, Howarth walked into the shop, launching verbal abuse at her friend.

The shopkeeper asked Haworth to leave but the woman dragged Mr Perkins out into the street by his arm, swearing at him as the pensioner tried to resist.

In the struggle outside the shop, Howarth was seen banging Mr Perkins’ head off a brick wall and kicking him while she continued to swear.

Before she left the pensioner, Howarth went into his pocket and pulled out £20, which she made off with.

She pleaded guilty to robbery of Mr Perkins.

Judge Jonathan Gibson, sentencing at Preston Crown Court, said: “Mr Perkins was 72 at the time and somewhat isolated and vulnerable.

“You would often drink together. You clearly have a drink problem.”

The court heard Haworth has spent eight months in prison since her arrest and has been attending weekly AA meetings.

She is also on a methadone program to tackle her drug abuse.

Judge Gibson said: “I trust in the future you will be able to be released to the type of (supported) accommodation that is mentioned in your pre-sentence report.”

He jailed Howarth for two years and three months and made a restraining order banning her from contacting Mr Perkins for five years.

The order also bans Howarth from going within 100 metres of Mr Perkins’ home address in Burnley when she is released from prison.