A robber who targeted elderly and frail women had boiling water poured over him in prison.
Dean Kenyon claims he is now "in constant and searing pain" after the agonising attack.
Kenyon was held in custody for a robbery where a 79-year-old victim was left with lifelong injuries.
He caused her to fall backwards and fracture her hip after he grabbed her handbag, the court heard.
But while in jail he had scalding water poured on his legs and arms, resulting causing him to require five skin graft operations.
TeessideLive told that in October 2020, he barged an arthritic women into a shop window before grabbing her purse.
He approached her from behind and pushed her into the window of a barber's shop before snatching her purse
Her bank cards were later recovered from Kenyon but treasured photos of her parents were never found. The woman was left traumatised by the attack and too afraid to leave her home.
At that point, he was living in Stockton and had 13 previous convictions mainly for acquisitive crime.
He was jailed for three years and four weeks.
On Friday, Kenyon, of Seaham, County Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court court via link from HMP Durham, to be sentenced for robbery.
He had pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.
Chris Morrison, defending, said: "The level of remorse in this matter is apparent.
"When the sober realisation of what he had done to that vulnerable lady dawned upon him, he was mortified, and is mortified to this day."
Mr Morrison said Kenyon had carried out the robbery in order to "acquire money for drugs" and said he had been the victim of an attack while on remand.
He said: "He had boiling water poured over his arms and legs, resulting in skin grafts to his arms and legs.
"He has had five skin graft operations and his mobility is to be affected by these. He is currently heavily sedated and is in constant and searing pain."
Sentencing Kenyon, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, handed him a six-year prison sentence, with a three-year extended licence.
