Shocking footage has emerged of the moment a 98-year-old woman's life was ruined in an attack lasting just four seconds.

The CCTV clip shows callous mugger Martin Spencer targeting the 4ft 6in pensioner in the M&S Foodhall in Canterbury, leaving her crumpled on the ground with a broken hip, collar bone and severe bruising.

This week, the 61-year-old was jailed for 32 months at Canterbury Crown Court, in a sentence branded "pathetic" by the woman's furious family.

Footage has now been released showing the moment Spencer pounced on his unsuspecting victim on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 31.

In the clip, the frail pensioner can be seen minding her own business when Spencer, walking with the aid of a cane, comes up behind her and grabs her bag from her trolley.

He apparently tells her, "I need this - I'm unemployed". She bravely attempts to cling onto the bag, but is knocked to the ground in the struggle.

Spencer then starts to make his getaway, but in an apparent act of remorse, returns to check on the victim as she lays helpless on the ground.

He then fled the scene, but was later arrested after a CCTV image of him was circulated by police.

Meanwhile, the formerly-independent victim, who is now 99, spent four weeks in hospital and is now having to live downstairs at her city home with support from her family as she can no longer climb the stairs.

Now, her son Robert Mace has asked the Crown Prosecution Service to consider appealing the sentence.

"It's pathetic," he said. "My mother almost died. It's destroyed the life of someone who was fiercely independent for the sake of a few pounds.

"She used to enjoy going out almost every day with the help of her shopping trolley walker, but has now lost all her independence and confidence.

"I appreciate the judge was following sentencing guidelines, but I think it is unduly lenient and I hope it can be reviewed."

During the sentencing hearing on Monday, Judge Catherine Brown told Spencer: "She bravely tried to stop you by holding onto it. Rather than letting go, you used your greater strength to forcibly remove it from her grip. That caused her to lose her balance and fall to the ground.

“Tragically, this robbery has had a devastating effect. She suffered a fractured collarbone, cracked pelvis and multiple bruises.

“She is no longer able to use stairs and may well have had to leave her home. I consider that you targeted her because of her vulnerability, age and frailty.

“You thought that she would be unable or unwilling to prevent you from taking the bag.

"You have no empathy or respect for other people and place your own needs before others, in particular the consequences for your victim.

"However, I bear in mind that you did return and stayed once you realised what you had done and that you have health issues."