A robber snatched a handbag from a woman more than three times his age, pushing her to the floor and kicking her in face, a court heard.

Stephan Adi was 23 when he attacked the elderly victim, after he saw her walking alone in Gravesend town centre.

He was also responsible for several burglaries which took place in the same area across January and February 2020.

Adi, now 24, of Suffolk Road, Gravesend, was found guilty of robbery, three counts of burglary, theft of motor vehicle and fraud by false representation following a trial at Woolwich Crown Court. He was jailed for five years at the same court last week.

The robbery took place in Commercial Place at around 7.15pm on December 29, 2019.

Adi approached the victim, who is in her 70s, from behind and grabbed her bag.

During her attempts to resist, she was pushed to the floor and kicked in the face before Adi took her bag and ran away.

Less than 20 minutes later, he used her bank card to buy a mobile phone top up from a shop in Norfolk Road.

Adi was also convicted of burgling a home in Darnley Street, where two televisions and foreign currency were stolen. His fingerprints were found on a window frame which had been forced open.

He also burgled a home in Brunswick Walk at around 2.55am on February 1.

On this occasion, the victim was sitting in their living room when they heard rustling in the kitchen. Upon going to investigate, she saw Adi reversing her car off the drive.

Officers stopped the vehicle in Rochester Road soon afterwards, and arrested Adi. More inquiries needed to be carried out and it was not possible to secure an immediate charge, so he was released on bail but with strict conditions.

'Adi is a prolific offender who presents a clear and obvious danger to the public'

However, Adi burgled a home in Suffolk Road at around 8.50pm on February 4. He was caught inside by the victim, who chased him into a bedroom before he climbed out of a window and ran away. Numerous fingerprints were taken from the property and these confirmed he was the offender.

He was arrested a short time later and has been held on remand since.

DC Rebecca Ward, Kent Police’s investigating officer for the case, said: "Adi is a prolific offender who presents a clear and obvious danger to the public.

"His willingness to use violence on an elderly woman demonstrates the abhorrent lengths he is prepared to go to while committing an offence.

"He caused a significant amount of distress to numerous victims and I am pleased that he is no longer able to target innocent members of the public."

Read more: All the latest news from Gravesend

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