A 94-year-old woman who fought off an alleged attacker in Sydney's inner-west has been left with a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain.
Police have charged a 28-year-old with various offences over the alleged incident, which occurred at Ashfield about 11:00am yesterday.
Witnesses told police the man attempted to steal the woman's handbag, however, she was able to hold on. He fled empty-handed.
Police will allege the man then pushed the woman, causing her to fall and hit her head on the pavement.
The local woman was taken to Royal Prince Alfred Hospital where she remains in a serious condition.
Acting Superintendent Brandan Searson said "the man can only be described as a coward".
"It was a particularly heinous act committed on a vulnerable and elderly member of our community," he said.
The man was refused bail during a brief hearing at Burwood Local Court.
