A woman feared she was going to be raped when she was grabbed from behind by a stranger in the street late one evening, a court heard.

But heroin addict Ashley Adams was more intent on stealing the victim’s purse to buy more drugs.

The woman had been to a shop and was walking along Bentley Road in Gravesend at 10.30pm on October 27 last year.

She was aware of a man behind her walking slowly.

He then grabbed her, putting his arms around her.

“She feared for her safety and feared she was about to be raped,” prosecutor Trevor Wright told Maidstone Crown Court. “He snatched her purse containing her bank card.”

Police were later dealing with another incident in Milton Road when 21-year-old Adams was stopped. The stolen bank card was found in his pocket.

On New Year’s Eve, Adams went into B&M Home Store in New Road and stole three bottles of vodka and a bottle of rum.

When stopped in Princes Street by security staff he was found to have a plastic pistol which had been coloured black with a marker pen.

Adams, of East Kent Avenue, Northfleet, admitted robbery, theft, having an imitation firearm and breaching bail.

The recorder, Mr John Bate-Williams, told him: “This case is an illustration of the awful harm which is presented by drug use among young people. It must have been a terrifying experience for her.

“She no longer feels safe going out in the evenings.

“It clearly has had a significant effect on her life.”

He said Adams was arrested because of “impressive police work”.

Simon Taylor, defending, submitted Adams, who has previously failed to beat his addiction, could receive drug treatment, rather than custody.

But the recorder said the sentence for robbery was almost always immediate imprisonment.

Jailing him for 16 months, he added: “You had a chance and you blew it. It is up to you, and you alone, which path you take in future. It is your choice.

“I know from working with addicts that however hopeless the situation seems, there is always hope. You must learn from this experience.”