A TEENAGER attacked four elderly women just two months after being released from a four-year jail sentence for similar offences, a court was told.

In two of the robberies the victims, one aged 87 and the other aged 71, were dragged along the ground when they refused to let go of their handbags.

A third woman, aged 88, was pushed over from behind and fell on her face bursting her nose and needed hospital treatment. None of the pensioners were seriously injured.

When Maksood Alam was arrested he told police that he saw robbing elderly women as a way of making money and that he did not have any feelings about them.

Alum, aged 17, of Marlborough Street, Bolton, appeared at Bolton Crown Court to be sentenced for four robberies.

Judge William Morris invoked special powers and jailed Alam for four years consecutive to nine months still outstanding from his previous sentence.

The court heard that Alam had an unstable background and had spent considerable periods of time in care.

His criminal career started when he was just 10 years old and he was addicted to heroin by the time he was 12. He had a total of 19 court appearances for 27 offences dating back to 1994.

Prosecutor Richard Heap said that the first robbery involved a handbag snatch from a 58-year-old woman walking along Chorley Old Road with her friend.

She was pulled to the floor when she refused to let go of her bag and suffered grazing and bruising. The next victim was an 87-year-old pensioner who was pulled along the ground causing bruising and grazing. She lost £30 cash and personal papers.

An 88-year-old woman was attacked next and she was pushed to the floor from behind bursting her nose. She lost £70 in cash and her bag worth £30.

The last victim was aged 71. She was mugged the following day after she had left the Baptist Church in Eden Street, Astley Bridge.

She refused to let go of her bag and was dragged along the road by Alam who was on a bike, until the bag strap snapped. She lost her bag worth £50 and £40 in cash.

Defending, Tina Langdale said that by pleading guilty Alam had ensured the elderly women would not have the trauma of giving evidence in court.

She said that Alam had not had a normal upbringing, had no male role model and had spent long periods in care.

He had lived rough and worked for a few pounds a day for his father. He had robbed the women because he needed new clothes and had no money. He felt remorse for what he had done and hoped the women could forgive him.

Judge William Morris said the women had no doubt experienced great fear and that at the age of 17 Alam had an appalling criminal record.