A ROBBERY accused man has been locked up over allegations he targeted and attacked an 81-year-old woman to severe injury on a Greenock street.

Sean Hill, 25, appeared from custody at the town's sheriff court on four separate charges relating to the alleged incident and other criminal matters.

Detectives traced and arrested Hill after an elderly pensioner was rushed to hospital with a brain bleed following what has been described as a 'horrible attack'.

Officers say the frail woman was mugged in broad daylight and left lying seriously injured on the ground at the junction of Old Inverkip Road and Auchneagh Road on Friday May 4.

They added that she was robbed of her handbag, containing cash, and sustained an internal head wound after falling to the ground.

Hill was arrested after Greenock CID launched an urgent appeal for information.

The victim was said to have suffered a bleed to her brain and is now recovering at home following emergency treatment at Inverclyde Royal Hospital.

Detective Sergeant Ross Macdonald said of the alleged serious assault and robbery: "This was a horrible attack on an elderly woman."

Hill, of Greenock, is also facing a theft by shoplifting charge and two counts of allegedly behaving in a threatening or abusive manner like to cause a reasonable person to suffer fear or alarm.

He made no plea regarding the alleged assault to severe injury and robbery matter, as well as the other charges, during a private hearing at Greenock Sheriff Court on Tuesday afternoon.

Sheriff Daniel Kelly continued all matters for further examination and remanded Hill in custody.

He is due to appear again in the dock next week.