by Hayley Robinson

A smash-and-grab raider who snatched designer watches worth almost £16,000 from a jewellers has been jailed.

John Andrew Roffey, 31, of no fixed address, used a wrench to smash his way through the window of Battrum and Son Jewellers in High Street, Sittingbourne, to steal three Rolex watches.

He was arrrested within minutes of the break-in after a have-a-go hero and two plain clothes police officers gave chase.

The watches were found in his pocket.

At the time of the raid on September 16 Roffey had been out of prison for just 22 days.

He pleaded guilty to the burlgary when he appeared before Maidstone Crown Court yesterday (October 26).

Roffey was sentenced to two years and three months in prison.

Full story in this week's Sittingbourne Messenger.