A ROBBER left an elderly woman lying on the ground with a bleed on her brain after attacking her with such force that she fell and cracked the back of her skull on the road.

Sean Hill followed the 81-year-old from a bus in Greenock after eyeing up her red leather handbag, then ran at her from behind — leaving her sprawled helpless on the ground as he sprinted off.

Footage from a residential CCTV camera which was widely circulated on social media in the immediate aftermath of the attack shows thug Hill creeping up on his victim, who falls as he grabs and hauls her handbag from her.

The short clip shows the coward then running away.

Prosecutor John Penman told the town's sheriff court how Hill, 25, 'didn't break stride' despite the plight of the badly injured victim, who needed emergency treatment at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Hill pounced on her in broad daylight on May 4 at the junction of Auchneagh Road and Old Inverkip Road as she was making her way home from a trip to buy a birthday card for her husband.

Fiscal depute Mr Penman said: "He grabbed the strap of the bag with such force that the momentum of seizing it caused the complainer to spin round, causing her to lose balance and fall to the ground, striking the rear of her head on the roadway.

"The accused took possession of the bag and didn't break stride as he ran off, leaving the old woman on her back."

Mr Penman told the court: "From the McGill's CCTV, the complainer boarded the bus at 2.01pm and took a seat halfway up the aisle.

"The accused had also appeared at the bus stance on Kilblain Street and had taken a place behind the complainer in the queue.

"He was seen on CCTV to be taking notice of the complainer's bag over her shoulder, and he boarded the bus immediately after her.

"On arrival at her stop at Pennyfern the complainer walks down the centre aisle and the accused follows immediately behind her.

"The complainer turns right and walks to a pedestrian crossing near Clyde Auto Sales.

"From the auto sales CCTV the accused is observed walking between ten and 20 feet behind her, and on private CCTV the accused is observed to run behind the complainer."

The court heard how Hill returned some time later to see the elderly woman, a retired doctor, still lying on the road with blood streaming from the back of her head.

People had gathered around her, stepping from their vehicles and coming out of their homes to try to assist her.

The stolen bag contained £40 in cash, family photographs and credit cards.

Mr Penman said: "The complainer had a three centimetre laceration which required four sutures.

"A CT scan revealed a haemorrhage of her left parietal lobe and there was deep bruising to her left hip and thigh.

"The injury sustained was serious."

An investigation involving a number of officers led to Hill's door on Finch Road, where he was arrested.

He also pleaded guilty to stealing a pressure washer and a paddling pool from Homebase in April.

Sheriff Andrew McIntyre deferred sentence until September 18 for a background report.

Defence lawyer Andrew Kennedy reserved his plea in mitigation until then.

Sheriff McIntyre told Hill: "This is a much more serious matter than your previous convictions.

"I can't conceive that there will be anything other than a custodial sentence."