A career shoplifter arrested after mugging a pensioner complained to police she would be recognised in an ID parade because her photo had appeared on KentOnline.

Chloe Downey, from Gillingham, featured in an article about the county's most wanted criminals in relation to a series of thefts from elderly people in the town.

Her picture was issued by police in an appeal to find information about the crimes.

The 29-year-old appeared at Maidstone Crown Court yesterday charged with robbing a 76-year-old man at 5am in Gillingham town centre.

The pensioner was going to collect his newspaper when Downey and two other women approached him.

Prosecutor Tony Prosser told the court how victim Malcolm Willoughby had gone to a cashpoint in the early morning on September 19 while en route to the shop.

Mr Willoughby, who needs a special frame on wheels to get around, withdrew £20 from the bank and was then confronted by Downey asking for £1, which he gave.

"When she had been identified as the robber she said her face had featured on KentOnline and would be recognised," prosecutor Tony Prosser

He said she was with two other women and the three began following him along the street.

CCTV caught the attack and showed the victim being pushed to the ground by Downey, who was known to him.

She claimed she was going to pay a £40 debt she owed him but he told her to go away.

Mr Prosser added: "After pushing him forcefully to the ground, instead, she reached into his pocket and removed his wallet.

"She then walked away and extracted £25 before throwing the wallet back towards him."

The distressed victim then pulled himself to his feet and went to the home of a friend to ask for help and the police were called.

Downey was arrested five days later and interviewed by officers.

Mr Prosser said: "When told she had been identified as the robber she said her face had been featured on KentOnline and Kent Police's Most Wanted and would be recognised."

Keith Yardy, defending, said after being remanded in custody the lapsed Roman Catholic had now returned to church and has written two letters to the judge expressing her remorse.

Mr Justice Nicklin told her she was a "career shoplifter" and jailed her for 30 months for the robbery, which she admitted.

He added the victim had been left afraid of going out and was now suspicious of people.

Before being led away to start her sentence, she said: "Can I say something? I am sorry. I really am."

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