A grieving mother today revealed how she feels responsible for her son dying in a suspected suicide in jail - after shopping him to police for mugging a 90-year-old woman . Sharron Lewis , 50 , of Bournemouth , named her son Sheldon Woodford , 24 , to police after recognising him in an appeal by detectives . The drug addict had stalked pensioner Betty Aldworth moments before the attack in the town , which knocked her to the ground and left her with knee and shoulder injuries . Sharron Lewis ( right ) had reported her son Sheldon Woodford ( left ) to police after recognising him in an appeal by detectives . He went on to commit suicide while in jail . Grieving mother Mrs Lewis , pictured with Sheldon , revealed she blames herself after her son was found hanging in his cell at HMP Winchester in Hampshire last week . He mugged the woman for her handbag while high on a cannabis-like legal drug called Clockwork Orange , and was jailed last month for robbery for more than four years . But Mrs Lewis said although she felt she did the right thing by speaking to police , she blamed herself after her son was found hanging in his cell at HMP Winchester in Hampshire last week . She told the Daily Mirror : ‘ I feel responsible and I feel that I failed him . I know I did the right thing for my son and for the old lady . ' I did it because he could have seriously hurt someone next time . I did it for his own good . ' I did it because he needed help and the only way he was going to get it was being in prison . He was in the right place to get help and he obviously didn ’ t get it. ’ On camera : CCTV footage showed Sheldon Woodford stalking the pensioner in Boscombe , Bournemouth . Speaking to Mirror reporters Euan Stretch and Paul Vass , she added that Woodford had attempted to hang himself four weeks before his death , and had been under hourly observation in jail . Mrs Lewis , who lives with her second husband David , 56 , said Woodford was a ‘ troubled person from childhood ’ , but he had forgiven her for alerting police that it was him in the CCTV appeal . Detective Constable Leo Glendon said at the time of Woodford ’ s sentencing last month that Mrs Lewis saw the police photo of her son and 'felt it right ' to come forward . He added : ‘ She felt that any loyalty towards her son was superseded by the fact that he had picked on a vulnerable , elderly lady . Robbery : Woodford snatched 90-year-old Betty Aldworth 's bag in the attack which knocked her to the ground . Moving : He could then be seen attempting to make a getaway with her bag while she remained on the ground . 'She felt it was right to come forward and inform us due to the nature of the crime and the fact Woodford was targeting elderly people and could still be a danger to them . 'We received a call from Woodford 's mother on January 2 during which she said `` That 's my son '' . Circled : Woodford , immediately prior to the incident . 'She wanted him to be forced to get help and the only way that was going to be possible is if he was put behind bars. ’ Judge Peter Johnson described Woodford 's crime as ' a cowardly , despicable act ' , saying : 'That injury is still causing her pain . The sentence of this court must be a severe one . ' He had nine previous convictions for 26 offences - including five robberies . Bournemouth Crown Court heard Woodford had moved back to the Dorset coastal town from the home he shared with his partner and baby in Chippenham , Wiltshire , after becoming overwhelmed by his role as a father . A Ministry of Justice spokesman said : ‘ HMP Winchester prisoner Sheldon Woodford died in hospital at 2.10pm on March 12 . ‘ Every death in custody is a tragedy and , as with all deaths , there will be an investigation by the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman. ’ Scene : Woodford was jailed for four-and-a-half years at Bournemouth Crown Court for the crime on this road . Imprisoned : He died in hospital last week after being found hanging at HMP Winchester ( above ) in Hampshire .
Sharron Lewis named her son Sheldon Woodford to Dorset Police . But drug addict , 2.10pm , died in suspected suicide after being jailed . He mugged pensioner for her handbag and knocked her to ground . Mrs Lewis believes she did the right thing by speaking to detectives . But blames herself after son was found hanging at HMP Winchester . For confidential support call the Samaritans in the UK on 08457 90 90 90 , visit a local Samaritans branch or click here .