A brave lone woman told a masked robber in the midst of a violent crime-wave to “f*** off” before wrestling him off her.

She was one of three of Charles Donte-Lauder’s victims as he targeted women in Ashford.

As part of his crime-spree, the 25-year-old robbed a man at knife-point - because he wanted to buy a burger at McDonalds.

But the father-of-one, who lived in the town, was arrested shortly after revealing his identity on the fast-food chain’s CCTV.

Now, Donte-Lauder has been locked up for six years after appearing at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday.

Judge Rupert Lowe told Donte-Lauder his robberies centred on people the thug "saw as soft touches, women on their own of a certain age whose handbags you thought you could easily steal".

“(One victim) told you quite rightly to f*** off," the judge said.

The court heard as she wrestled him away he kicked her in the leg and then fled empty-handed.

But the thief would snatch the handbag of a woman believed to be in her 70s moments later, knocking her over.

Donte-Lauder pulled her bag over her face, which caused her hood to obscure her vision, causing her to fall.

“You decided to pull her handbag off her," the judge continued.

"In doing so you pulled her over, causing minor injuries to her knee and elbow, she was an arthritic lady, and it all hurt."

Shortly afterwards the mugger then robbed another lady, also aged in her 70s, in a similar fashion.

“You went and bought concert tickets with her credit card - which doesn’t suggest you had any immediate debts to pay,” said Judge Lowe.

Donte-Lauder committed his string of crimes in south Ashford, around Canterbury Road, Cemetery Lane and Bockhanger Lane, between 7.30am and 10:30am on December 3, 2021.

Days later, the former business studies student wielded a knife and ambushed Robert Matthews near the Ashford Outlet retail park, the court heard.

Mr Matthews heard fast footsteps behind him and stood aside believing he was giving way to a jogger, prosecutor Julie Whitby explained.

But Donte-Lauder then pulled out a kitchen knife and demanded his wallet.

Donte-Lauder patted him down, took a folding wallet, and ordered he surrendered his pin, the court heard.

But his quick-thinking victim said he could not remember the digits, ahead of Donte-Lauder having the card refused in McDonald’s.

Mr Matthews described Donte-Lauder’s demeanour as “rather nervous and inexperienced in nature,” the court heard.

Donte-Lauder, of Bloomsbury Way, was also spotted with a “rambo knife” arguing with a man in the street, in an unrelated incident in October last year.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of having an article with a bladed point, two counts of robbery and two counts of attempted robbery before trial at the same court.

Representing Donte-Lauder, Ronnie Bergenthal said the defendant's life spun out of control after he became addicted to heroin.

He told Judge Lowe his victims suffered “no serious injuries” and the robber was acting “in fear of others from London”.

He explained Donte-Lauder was a “mild young man” while off drugs and he had no relevant previous convictions.

But the court heard his latest crimes placed him in breach of a two-year suspended sentence after being caught dealing heroin.

Judge Lowe activated six months of the suspended sentence order on top of 66 months for the recent matters.

Donte-Lauder, who appeared from HMP Elmley remotely while being supported by family in the public gallery, will have time on remand deducted from his overall sentence.