A couple robbed of thousands of pounds of Christmas club cash are "elated and relieved" after their attacker was sent to prison.

After hearing Marcus Richards had been jailed for three years and four months, Margaret and Brian Ost said he got what he deserved.

The pair had just left their home in Luton Road, Chatham, and were setting off to deliver cash to Mr Ost’s former work colleagues, when Richards pounced.

He pleaded guilty to robbery at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday.

Mrs Ost, 70, broke her wrist, cut her right knee and was badly bruised during the attack.

She had to have an operation to repair her arm and still gets aches and pains in her shoulder.

After the sentencing, she said: "We’re elated, it’s a weight off our shoulders. We are glad it’s all over, and we are pleased with the sentence he got."

Mr Ost, 67, was not injured in the attack in November but has found the incident such an ordeal that he has suffered with depression and gets upset as soon as he starts talking about it.

He said: "My wife was the one that was injured, but I’ve suffered mentally because of what he did."

Richards, who was chased by bystanders, dropped about £14,000, but £10,000 is still missing.

Mrs Ost said: "We can’t thank the people who gave chase enough, especially the man who got his jumper off him. His DNA was on it, so the police knew who he was.

"We can’t thank the police enough either – PC Karen Hearn has been wonderful. In fact, everyone who lives round here has been great, they just don’t realise what their support has done for us. It’s got us through this nightmare."

Mr Ost said he often visits his former colleagues at the bus depot and they have been great at supporting him, too.

He added: "The guys have been brilliant, they don’t blame me. I feel a lot better now it’s all over. I slept better after I heard what he got and it was such a relief to hear he had pleaded guilty and we didn’t have to go through a trial."

Robber is convicted killer - full report in today's Medway Messenger.