THIS is the face of one of Hampshire's most vile criminals.

He is the man who terrorised and robbed his own frail grandmother.

But today Matthew O'Connor is behind bars after a court was told of his shocking crime.

O'Connor lashed out at 81-year-old Phyllis Riddett before forcing the pensioner, who had acted as his ''surrogate mother'', to hand over her late sister's engagement ring.

Portsmouth Crown Court heard how unemployed O'Connor had gone to his grandmother's Southampton flat and demanded cash to pay a fictitious parking fine.

When the elderly lady, who lives alone, said she he did not have any money to spare, 24-year-old O'Connor became angry and began shouting and swearing at her.

He then kicked his terrified victim in the leg and grabbed her by the throat.

Mrs Riddett screamed out but O'Connor placed his hand over her mouth.

He then grasped her left hand and demanded she give him her wedding ring and her sister's diamond and sapphire ring.

The distraught widow handed over both rings but pleaded with her grandson not to take her wedding ring, which he eventually gave back.

When arrested, O'Connor claimed his grandmother had tried to slap him and that he had acted in self-defence.

He told police the rings ended up in his hands as a result of the ensuing struggle.

In a statement read out by prosecuting counsel Philip Warren, Mrs Riddett said: "I still love my grandchild Matthew but what he has done has upset me terribly.''

Earlier, the court heard that Mrs Riddett had acted as O'Connor's "surrogate mother" for most of his childhood. He never knew his real father.

O'Connor, of Rose Road, Portswood, Southampton, was given a two-and-a-half-year jail term at Portsmouth Crown Court yesterday after admitting robbery.

However, he will be out in just under a year as half the sentence was suspended and he has already served three months on remand.

Sentencing O'Connor, Judge David Selwood said: "This offence is so shocking that it is difficult to put aside one's feeling of revulsion for what you did to this elderly lady who had shown such kindness to you throughout your life.

"You are being punished severely and you richly deserve it."

The pensioner has been unable to walk properly since the ordeal on January 29.

She was also said to be too nervous to leave her home and was having problems eating.

Once released, O'Connor will remain on licence for a further 22 and a half months.

A tearful Mrs Riddett declined to speak last night. She said: "I'm sorry, I don't want to say anything. I am too full up to say anything."

Susanne Gill, of Age Concern Southampton, said the severity of the offence warranted a longer spell behind bars.

She said: "This is the worst case I have ever encountered involving an assault by a relative. He'll be out in a year and that doesn't seem right considering he's physically assaulted his own grandmother."

A spokesman for Elder Abuse - the charity which helps older victims of physical, psychological and financial mistreatment - said such violent abuse was only present in about two per cent of cases.

He said: "Sometimes it takes a violent incident like this for charges to be brought as it's only then that the victim finally decides to go to the police.

"An interesting element in this case is that drink or drugs didn't play any part in the abuser's behaviour or motivation which is quite unusual."

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