A generous Croydon man is giving £50 of his own money to a 90-year-old victim of a bagsnatch.

Former fire-fighter Bob Proud from Sanderstead was so appalled to read in the Guardian of what he called a "despicable" and "cowardly" robbery that he decided to donate the money out of his own pocket.

The pensioner was left badly shaken after she was grabbed from behind by a young thug as she walked in South Norwood Hill on Tuesday, May 5. The victim lost her bag containing the cash after a brief struggle despite the efforts of a 75-year-old passer-by who gave chase. Mr Proud said: "This sort of thing sickens me and I just felt that I had to do something. How a low life like that can rob a poor defenceless old woman is totally beyond me.

He added: "Me giving her the money won't make up for the attack but at least it will go some way to making her feel that not all people are like that."

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