An elderly woman who was beaten up and robbed by an intruder to sheltered accommodation in South Ashford has worse injuries than first thought.

Jean Joyce had her handbag stolen and was punched in the face and dragged along the floor by a smartly dressed intruder in Oakleigh house, a sheltered accommodation block in South Ashford, on Saturday, May 30.

She was left with bruising to her face and a painful break in her upper arm. This week doctors found that a splinter of bone is lodged into the break but told her family the risk of operating is too great as they fear the 71-year-old would not survive the anaesthetic.

Her son, Daniel Joyce, who lives near his mother, said that the prognosis of her arm not being operated on is also worrying.

Doctors explained that she will not be able to lift it above shoulder height and the bone and arm could become deformed.