by Lynn Cox

lcox@thekmgroup.co.uk

A thug who stole a frail elderly woman's money and handbag after pushing her over in her home has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.

William Scamp, 24, pictured, burst into the home of a 95-year-old Northfleet pensioner who lived with her son, along with two other masked men.

Scamp pushed her over and made off with cash and her handbag.

The two other masked men he was with have never been caught.

Scamp, of Otterham Quay Lane, Rainham, denied two counts of robbery when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court for trial on Monday, January, 4.

A jury convicted him of the robbery in a unanimous verdict, on Wednesday .

The robbery happened in Lanes Avenue, Northfleet on March 12, last year.

The men duped the woman’s 63-year-old son into opening the back door by calling at the house and saying a cat was stuck in their back garden.

When he opened the back door the trio, who were all wearing masks, burst into the house.

They threatened both victims and pushed over the woman before making off with cash and a handbag.

Det Cons Corinne Vidler, said after sentencing: “I am delighted that, after hearing the evidence, the jury convicted Scamp of these crimes.

“This was a truly horrendous experience for the victims, which caused them both a great deal of upset and anxiety.

“People have a right to feel safe in their own homes and the five-and-a-half year sentence imposed demonstrates to the public that we take offences such as this extremely seriously.

“Scamp now has a long time to think about what he has done.”