A WOMAN of 95 was brutally attacked in her home by a thug - all for the sake of £100. Widow Laurie Butler was watching television when the thief broke in. He punched her in the face smashing her glasses, kicked her legs and then grabbed her around the throat.

As she lay battered and bruised on the floor he demanded cash and, when she asked why he needed to beat her up, gave her a pathetic apology.

Mrs Butler, recovering at her home in Rochester, said: "There was no need to knock me about. He said sorry and said all he wanted was my money. I replied that in that case he would have to help me up off the carpet." The thief then dragged her over to her money box on the window sill and snatched cash she had saved for a weekend break.

Before leaving he propped Mrs Butler up in the chair. The incident has left her badly shaken but she declined hospital treatment when paramedics arrived. She added: "If I saw him again I would say he was a despicable coward to attack an old lady."

The thief is described as white, about 5ft 7ins tall, aged between 30-40, of tubby build with a round face. He was wearing a wax-style dark grey jacket, light trousers and a scarf.

Police are keen to speak to anyone who saw a man acting suspiciously in an alley-way near Cecil Road, Rochester, about the time of the break-in - between 8.30pm and 9pm on Saturday. Anyone with information is asked to contact Det Con Colin Edwards on 01634 884252 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.