A BRAVE customer thumped a drunken thief who attacked an assistant at her local store, a court heard.

Luke Ross responded by punching and kicking Margaret Evans before throwing her into a busy road in front of oncoming traffic.

A judge jailed Ross for two-and-a-half years yesterday after describing the attack on the plucky 63-year-old as despicable.

Ross tried to steal cans of lager from the Londis Store in Harold Road, Hastings, on January 24.

He punched a shop assistant twice in the face when she tried to stop him and get him out of the shop.

Shaun Esprit, prosecuting, said: "Mrs Evans went to her defence and lashed out at him with her shopping bag.

"He punched her in the head and she responded by calling him a filthy creature before he punched her on the head again.

"Ross then kicked Mrs Evans on the leg and grabbed her and threw her into the road, which at the time was busy with passing cars.

"He then took the bag containing her shopping and ran off."

Mrs Evans, who had only recently undergone heart surgery, was taken to hospital after the attack because paramedics were concerned about the traumatic effects of the incident on her heart.

She suffered a swollen knee and cuts and bruises as a result of the incident, Hove Crown Court heard.

Ross, of Preston Road, Bexhill, admitted causing Mrs Evans actual bodily harm and a separate charge of common assault on the shop assistant.

He also admitted stealing the woman's shopping and cans of lager from the store, as well as resisting police who arrested him.

Frank Winslett, defending, said Ross was drunk at the time and was genuinely shocked when he was told what he had done.

Mr Winslett said: "He wrote immediately to the victims and apologised and has asked me to make a public apology to everyone concerned."

Judge Anthony Niblett told Ross: "This was a despicable, sustained assault on a vulnerable older lady who had bravely tried to intervene to help the shop assistant.

"It is the duty of this court to punish you for what you did in order to protect the public."