Heroin addict killed 100-year-old woman in street robbery

• A heroin addict has been found guilty of killing a 100-year-old woman after he attacked her in the street for her handbag.

Artur Waszkiewicz attacked Zofija Kaczan in Derby last year as she walked to church.

He stole her handbag and left her to bleed in the middle of the road.

The court heard Waszkiewicz attacked her because he was “desperate for money.”

She suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured neck and cheekbone.

She died from pneumonia in hospital on June 6 last year.

The court was told the condition could only have been brought on by the injuries she sustained.

Police have released images of her injuries.

Mrs Kaczan grew up in Poland and survived a Nazi concentration camp before moving to Derby.

She went to mass every day, always sitting in the same seat. She was one of the most loved members of her congregation and her death has shocked the community. Special prayers have been held in her memory.

On the day of the attack, she managed to make it as far as her church to get help.

During his trial Waszkiewicz denied ever seeing the pensioner and told the court he was not responsible for her death.

He said he had seen her handbag on the floor and had picked it up to find cash, but Ms Kaczan was nowhere to be seen.

He was found by police hiding under a bed at his mother’s house

Artur Waszkiewicz denied all the charges and will be sentenced tomorrow.