A drug addict left a middle-aged woman traumatised after he dragged her along the road in a desperate attempt to steal her handbag.

The 54-year-old commuter clung onto the bag as Danny Bourne tried to wrestle it from her.

Her ordeal ended when have-a-go hero Steven Davey saw what was happening, shouted at the mugger and then gave chase.

He was praised by a judge for his “public spirited behaviour”. He added: “I think it is only right and proper someone should commend Mr Davey for his brave actions.”

Bourne was caught because he dropped his mobile phone. Mr Davey picked it up and police were able to track down the robber by piecing together the information on it.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the victim was walking from Dartford train station shortly before 9pm on August 14 last year having been to work in London.

She had almost reached her home when she saw a shadow close behind her.

She had her bag over her right shoulder and felt it being pulled forcibly from her arm.

"It is a nasty attempted robbery. I unhesitatingly say for offences of this kind, the custody threshold is well and truly passed" - Judge Philip Statman

“She screamed loudly,” said prosecutor Claire Cooper. “He continued to pull. He took hold of the bag with both hands.

“He started to walk up some steps and was dragging her behind him. She shouted a number of times: ‘There is nothing in my bag.’

“He continued to pull her along. She felt the edges of the steps grazing her arms. She had pain to her ribs and grazes to her elbows and knees from the force of being dragged along the street.”

Mr Davey shouted to Bourne, 24, to stop. As he gave chase, he saw Bourne drop his phone. He picked it up and gave it to the police.

Officers went to Bourne’s home in Carrington Road, Dartford, and found him hiding under bushes in the garden, wearing the same clothes Mr Davey described.

Information on his phone suggested he had a drug debt, said Miss Cooper. He at first denied attempted robbery but later admitted it.

Jailing the cocaine addict for two years, Judge Philip Statman said: “It is a nasty attempted robbery. I unhesitatingly say for offences of this kind, the custody threshold is well and truly passed.”

Craig Evans, defending, said it was “an unpleasant and nasty offence” which had plainly impacted on the victim, but submitted a suspended sentence could be imposed.

“It is his first offence,” he said. “A real salutary lesson has been learnt. He has spent time on a monitored curfew. He is susceptible to help and change.”