A THUG who robbed a pensioner as he was heading home from a hospital appointment has been jailed for 14 months.

Robert Graham, 39, ripped a bag from John Kinloch, 72, during the crime at Glasgow’s Hieleman’s Umbrella in April this year.

Graham grabbed it so hard he left Mr Kinloch with just the handle before being chased by two bystanders.

Graham pleaded guilty on Tuesday to the robbery and acting in a threatening or abusive manner while on bail.

The court heard Mr Kinloch had attended an appointment at the city’s Gartnavel Hospital before going to a city centre Lidl supermarket.

Graham confronted the OAP after he left and demanded: “That’s my bag. Let me see in it.”

Prosecutor Adele Macdonald said: “Graham then grabbed the bag with such force that the handle snapped and Mr Kinloch was left holding the handle.”

Graham fled the scene before Mr Kinloch alerted two workers at a nearby shop.

The pair went after Graham, who threatened to stab them and cut their faces off.

But, he got away and it was two days later before he traced by police.

Graham’s lawyer Marissa Borland said: “He asked me to make a public apology and cannot believe he behaved in that way towards someone of the man’s age.

“He recognises it would have been a frightening experience for him.”

The court heard Graham already had similar convictions.

Sheriff Alan Mackenzie said “It must have been traumatising for Mr Kinloch, a man of 72 and you recognise that.”