A DRUGS dealer was jailed for seven years yesterday for causing a frail pensioner's death by mugging her.

Jason Scott Jones, 29, was found guilty of manslaughter and attempted robbery by a jury at Teesside Crown Court.

The court heard how Jones, who has a criminal record stretching back 12 years, pounced on 78-year-old Vera Olley as she left the Co-op store in Spennymoor, County Durham, last December.

Mrs Olley, who weighed only six-and-a-half stones, had been seen by Jones, of Salvin Street, Spennymoor, as she collected £200 in allowances from the post office counter at the Co-op.

He tried to snatch her handbag, and in the tussle that followed, Mrs Olley fell and fractured her leg.

She needed surgery and later suffered a stroke. Her health continued to decline, and she died from pneumonia on January 31.

Judge Peter Fox QC told the jury, who took four hours to reach a unanimous guilty verdict, that the pensioner was "a vulnerable old lady caring for her husband and collecting their pension so that they could enjoy their old age together."

Turning to Jones, who just weeks ago was convicted of supplying heroin, he added: "You watched her at the post office then bided your time as she did her shopping.

"She was a plucky lady and hung on to her bag until you realised you were not going to get it.

"The consequences of what you did killed her."

Mrs Olley's nephew Alan Olley, 60, of Parsons Court, Ferryhill was present when the verdict was announced. He said it came as a relief.

"I'm delighted that he got his just rewards," he said.

"It has been a traumatic time and hearing the verdict was very emotional. I was close to tears when it was read out."

Mr Olley, revealed that her husband, Tommy, 79, who suffers from alzheimer's disease, had not been told of her death.

"Even now he asks where she is," he said.

"But, because of his condition, we didn't feel it was right to tell him.