A robber who repeatedly hit a woman over the head so he could snatch her handbag in Dollis Hill has been jailed for five years.

Ahmed Ali, 23, from Islington, stopped his victim in Park Avenue to ask for directions before trying to strike up a conversation with her.

He walked alongside her before carrying out his ferocious attack in Sherrick Green Road.

His victim needed stitches in her head and suffered a fractured hand.

Ali was arrested by police after he was traced through information he gave to his victim while talking to her.

She picked him out in a subsequent ID parade.

He admitted carrying out the robbery in October last year and was jailed at Harrow Crown Court.