A would-be robber who threatened a young man to try and steal his bag has been locked up for more than two years.

Andy Opoku approached Aaron Kirkwood as he was walking along East Street in Gillingham last year.

Opoku demanded Mr Kirkwood hand over his bag and threatened him as he did so.

Quick-thinking Aaron, 25, who is autistic, stepped behind a parked car and ran off, only stopping to dial 999.

As he called the police, Opoku stood on the corner of the road watching him before cycling off.

Aaron had been walking to visit his mother, who lives nearby, and was texting on the phone when the man approached him and ordered him to "give me your bag".

Aaron, from Chatham, said: "I was so scared, I couldn't say anything.

"It all happened so quickly but I was determined he was not going to get my bag. I'd only just bought it and it cost me £30.

"This is not the first time this has happened around here. This was in the middle of the afternoon. It was the scariest thing that's ever happened to me. People need to be alert."

Opoku, of Railway Street, Gillingham, was arrested later the same day in August last year and was later charged with attempted robbery and possessing an offensive weapon.

It is understood the charge of possessing an offensive weapon was later dropped by the CPS.

He was jailed for 28 months at Maidstone Crown Court.

After sentencing, DC Rebecca Veares said: "Opoku initially denied being involved in his incident and claimed he was being set up, however our inquiries clearly linked him to the offence and he later admitted the charges which were put to him.

"He caused fear and stress to the victim and it’s quite right that he has been sentenced accordingly."

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