A PENSIONER died after she was injured as someone tried to snatch her shopping bag, a court was told.

Vera Olley was an active woman who looked after her infirm husband, but she fell as she tried to stop her shopping bag being snatched away from her in Spennymoor town centre, County Durham, in December and fractured her thigh, Teesside Crown Court was told.

Mrs Olley, 77, needed an operation on her leg but after that she suffered a stroke and later developed pneumonia. She died on January 31.

Yesterday, Jason Scott Jones, 29, of no fixed abode, appeared before the court charged with manslaughter and attempted robbery. He denied the charges.

Peter Johnson, prosecuting, said: "The prosecution case is that whoever caused that fall by trying to rob Mrs Olley of her bag, by using force to pull her bag away from her, caused the death of Mrs Olley. And whoever did that, say the Crown, is guilty not only of attempted robbery, but also of manslaughter."

Mr Johnson said Mr Jones had been at the Co-op store in Spennymoor where Mrs Olley was shopping.

He was seen standing near the post office area inside the store. Mrs Olley was served at the post office counter and given about £200 in allowances.

Mr Jones was seen at the adjacent counter and moved away as Mrs Olley moved from the counter.

Outside the Co-op Mrs Olley felt a tugging at her shopping bag and turned to see a man pulling her bag, said Mr Johnson. When Mr Jones was interviewed by the police he denied having any involvement.

The case continues