A pair of moped muggers who left a young woman in a coma with a bleed on the brain while using her bank card to buy ice cream and vodka have been jailed for a total of 14 years.

James Hicks, 20, and Joshua Scales, 18, carried out the robbery on a stolen moped in June last year as their victim walked home from a tube station.

Hospital pharmacist Piruntha Palarasa was listening to music on headphones attached to her smart phone at around 9pm when she was 'hunted down' in Holyrood Gardens, Edgware.

The 25-year-old bravely struggled to keep hold of her handbag and phone as the moped mounted the pavement and both thugs tried to grab her belongings.

Scales then punched her in the head causing her to fall onto the pavement and fracture her skull, Harrow Crown Court was told.

The robbery happened the same day that comedian Michael McIntyre was targetted by hammer-wielding moped robbers as he picked up his kids from school in nearby Golders Green, though police are not linking the two attacks.

Prosecutor Louise Oakley told the court Miss Palarasa was expected to have life-changing injuries but made a miraculous recovery after being kept in an induced coma for nearly three weeks.

Last year Hicks and Scales both pleaded guilty to the robbery with Hicks admitting six counts of fraud relating to the use of her bank cards after the attack and Scales admitting to three.

The court heard the pair also admitted handling stolen goods relating to a Piaggio Vespa they used to carry out the robbery in June.

Hicks also admitted two other robberies on May 25 last year relating to a man and a woman who were threatened with being stabbed if they did not hand over their bags that contained phones and a laptop.

Scales additionally admitted one count of theft relating to money stolen from a safe at his children's home on May 11 and possession of cannabis when he was arrested three days after the June 4 robbery.

Scales, of Newham, east London, was handed an extended sentence after the judge ruled he was 'dangerous'.

Judge Rosa Dean said: "It seems to me sadly that your behaviour has now been out of control for many years. Your criminal record is serious. Court orders in the past have had no control over you."

He was jailed for a total of six years and four months with an extended licence period of three years.

Hicks, of no fixed address, was jailed for seven-and-a-half years.