TWO street muggers who robbed an elderly charity collector to fund their drug habits were yesterday jailed for a combined total of more than 12 years.

Barry Hutchinson and Shaun Taylor targeted the 78-year-old woman as she was making door-to-door collections for the Christian Aid charity in Shildon, one evening in May.

They approached her from behind at the junction of Alma Road and Windsor Court and grabbed the woman's bag, containing the envelopes she had collected.

Durham Crown Court was told that the collector fell to the ground and banged her head on the pavement.

She saw the thieves running off towards Windsor Court with her bag, and a passing motorist pulled up to report it to police on his mobile phone.

Peter Sabiston, prosecuting, said the victim was treated at hospital for abrasions and a swelling to the back of the head, but was not detained.

Mr Sabiston said Hutchinson's partner at the time gave a statement to police saying that he and Taylor had been at her home in Kilburn Street, Shildon, that day and had talked of carrying out a robbery, "on a 'provi' woman, or something like that".

They were later seen counting small sums of money in a bedroom, before taking a taxi to Bishop Auckland. They paid for the taxi in small change.

Hutchinson and Taylor both denied robbery, saying they had been at the house most of the day until they left to go to Bishop Auckland. But a jury returned unanimous guilty verdicts on both men.

Hutchinson, 35, of Redhouses, Toft Hill, near Bishop Auckland, was jailed for six years.

Taylor, 24, of Moorland Close, Crook, received a five- year sentence, but was also re-called to serve an 18-month unexpired part of a previous prison sentence.

Passing sentence, Judge Richard Lowden said: "Although there were no serious injuries to this lady, the effect upon her must have been devastating. There were no weapons used, but I don't know how much worse a street mugging can be."

After the hearing, investigating officer, Detective Constable Stephen McLean, said: "It's fair to say we are pleased with this outcome. We will be contacting the lady to let her know."