A robber who held a knife to a woman’s throat before stealing her purse has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

David Howarth carried out the attack against the victim in Gillingham in August and went on to use her bank card to buy tobacco.

The 45-year-old, of Manor Street in Gillingham, pleaded guilty to robbery, possessing an offensive weapon and fraud and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on Monday, September 24.

The court heard that at around 4.40pm on Monday, August 20, the victim was walking home from the train station in Gillingham.

As she travelled through an alley, off Balmoral Road, Howarth grabbed her arm from behind and turned her around.

He then used his other arm to hold a knife under her chin and demanded her purse.

The victim refused at first but handed the purse over after repeated threats from Howarth, who also snatched her mobile phone.

Howarth ran from the scene and immediately used the victim’s bank card to buy pouches of tobacco from two nearby convenience stores.

CCTV from both stores clearly recorded Howarth using the card.

Police Constable Matthew Wadhams, the investigating officer for this case, said: "There are no mitigating circumstances for Howarth’s actions – his greed and lack of remorse subjected an innocent woman to a terrifying ordeal.

"I am pleased that we have managed to secure justice for the victim and that Howarth is now safely in prison, where he will not be able to hurt other members of the public."