A takeaway assistant bravely tackled a robber as he tried to snatch money from a fast food chain.

Donna Baker wrestled with the drug addict after he went “almost flying” over the counter when she opened the till to serve a customer.

The mum-of-four refused to let go of Simon Groves, who struck at Subway in Sittingbourne High Street, on what was her first nightshift.

“It was just an instant reaction, I thought it’s my first day on the till and I’m not letting you have my money,” she said.

"I’m not one to get scared or intimidated by others, I do kick-boxing and mixed martial arts but that’s mainly for fun as well as fitness"

“I’m not one to get scared or intimidated by others, I do kick-boxing and mixed martial arts but that’s mainly for fun as well as fitness.

“I’ve never had to use it before but it came in handy.”

The 33-year-old, from Alexandra Road, Sheerness, was serving customers at around 7.30pm on September 11 when the robbery happened.

The man she grappled with, a “recovering” heroin addict, eventually managed to flee with £95, leaving her with minor injuries.

But despite her frightening ordeal, Miss Baker told KentOnline she’s moved on since it happened.

“I was fine throughout the attack but got really worked up afterwards when the police came, it was just pure shock,” she said.

“We’ve put it all behind us now, however, people should think about what they’re doing because it isn’t just the company that’s affected by this it’s the ordinary workers too.”

Police arrested Groves at his home a day after the raid.

Groves, of Nunfield Cottages, Bull Lane, Newington, admitted robbery and was jailed for two years and nine months.

He was sentenced to five years in 2005 for a similar offence when he held a knife to the throat of a taxi driver in the town and was given four years in 2011.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Miss Baker had only been working at Subway a week when left shaken and terrified by Groves.

Prosecutor Bridget Todd said he was right in the victim’s face shouting: “Give me the ------- money.”

“She tried to grab hold of the till to stop him,” said Miss Todd. “He pulled it hard, throwing her about. She shouted for help.”

The manager went to her aid while the customer grabbed Groves from behind. But the manger eventually told Miss Baker to let him take the money.

She later told how she could not get the raider’s face out of her head and feared it might happen again.

Miss Todd said Groves had been sentenced to 120 days imprisonment by magistrates for stealing watches from Debenhams, burgling the Co-op in Milton Regis and stealing £70 from the till and stealing £56 from a petrol station.

He admitted robbing Subway at the same time and it was committed to Crown Court for sentence.

Judge Philip Statman said he was “just persuaded” not to pass an extended sentence for public protection, but warned: “You are perilously close to it.”

He added that the “brave young woman” had been determined he would not get away with the cash.