Police have released CCTV of a man kicking and stamping on a 66-year-old woman as he tried to snatch her bag.
Officers from Leicestershire Police called the attack "particularly nasty and callous" when a hooded man struck after the woman withdrew money from a cash machine in Beaumont Leys, Leicester.
The man approached the woman from behind, pulled her to the ground and then kicked and stamped on her.
The victim, who suffered bruising to her face, screamed and the man ran off empty-handed.
She said: "This was a terrible incident that happened to me, I cannot understand why it happened.
"I would like this person caught so it doesn’t happen to somebody else. I hope that anybody with any information tells it to the police so this person can be caught.”
Footage from the attack at around 6.30am on June 13 has been released by police.
Investigating officer Pc Daniel Thorpe said: “This was a particularly nasty and callous attack on a lone woman going about her daily business. This man had no regard for her safety and the long term effects of this assault on the victim have made her fearful of going out early on in the day and the pain she went through with the bruising."
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.