Two men who dragged a 60-year-old women out of her car as they stole it in Croydon have been jailed.

The victim was sitting in her car in her driveway in Princess Avenue when Kevin Da Silva and Gracia Muakana approached the vehicle on March 11.

As she was collecting her belongings inside the car, the car door was opened by one of the men who demanded she hand over the car keys.

As the victim struggled to get out of the car, she was unable to free herself from her seatbelt and was dragged out of the car with the seatbelt still fastened. She was held down on the floor by one of the men who covered her mouth with her hand.

The second suspect got into the car and tried to reverse it out of the drive - narrowly missing the victim who was still on the floor, before both men made off in the vehicle.

Police were called soon after and officers from Croydon’s Uniform Tasking Unit carried out a search of the local area when they spotted a vehicle similar to the victim’s.

Electrical tape had been used to alter the appearance of the number plate.

Da Silva and Muakana were both arrested and Da Silva was found to have the victim’s mobile phone in his pocket and was also in possession of a large kitchen knife and cannabis.

Both men were found guilty of robbery at Croydon Crown Court on 18 August 2011. Da Silva, 19 or College Green, Upper Norwood, was sentenced to six years imprisonment for his involvement and Muakana, 21 of Frimley Close, New Addington, was sentenced to spend eight years behind bars.

Detective Constable Tom Rogerson from Croydon’s Robbery Squad, who investigated the case, said: “These men thought nothing of pulling a defenceless and vulnerable woman from her own car for no better reason than they wanted to take it for themselves.

"They didn’t give a second though to the devastating effect their actions would have on the victim.

"Neither Da Silva or Muakana have shown the slightest remorse and denied the offence throughout the judicial process.

"Hopefully the victim is now able to put this behind her and start to rebuild her life after what must have been a very harrowing experience for her."