A thief has admitted stealing from a 90-year-old woman he targeted at a cash machine.

Craig Ellett snatched £80 from the hands of the elderly victim after she had withdrawn money in Rochester Road, Gravesend.

Ellett targeted the victim just before 10.30am on January 23 outside Nisa Local Newsbox Express at the junction with Brown Road.

Police say he stood behind her and watched as she used the cash machine, before grabbing the money as she went to put it in her purse and running off.

Ellett, of Farley Road, Gravesend, was arrested on Friday, January 26 and charged with theft.

He was also charged with burglary after breaking into the City Praise Centre church in Gravesend on the same day and stealing a television.

The 40-year-old appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, January 27 where he also faced a charge of possessing cannabis.

He pleaded guilty to all three charges and will be sentenced at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on March 27.

He is currently bailed by the court, with conditions.

KentOnline reported how the shopkeeper had rushed to help the pensioner, who is a regular customer at the shop, and bring in a bike the thief had propped against the shop before the attack.

Shop owner Chelan Patel and his staff put an appeal out on social media to help the police track the man down and released CCTV of the attack.