A robber who targeted a woman as she withdrew money from a cashpoint has been jailed.

Thomas Arnold pushed the victim from behind after she took £120 out of a cash machine in Gillingham High Street.

But the 30-year-old, of New Road, Chatham, was caught on CCTV later used by officers to identify him.

The incident happened at around 3.15pm on January 5 and the victim, a woman in her 40s, was not injured and chased after the offender.

She was assisted by a security worker from Medway Council and between them they followed Arnold along the High Street, up Canterbury Street and onto Lock Street.

He was last seen running across the Great Lines Recreation Ground.

The incident was reported to police and investigated by the Chief Constable’s crime squad.

"His imprisonment means he cannot target other innocent victims in such brazen fashion."

The team was able to gather CCTV from various sources that captured the offence and Arnold being chased from the scene.

Confident they would find him in the town centre, plain clothed officers attended the location the following Monday on January 11.

They went on to find him walking in Gillingham High Street and promptly detained him.

After being escorted to Medway Police Station, he was charged with the offence and has been remanded in custody since.

Arnold admitted robbery and was today sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court to 18 months’ imprisonment.

Police Constable Colin Cherry, Kent Police’s investigating officer for the case, said: "Arnold committed an opportunistic offence which naturally caused the victim a great deal of distress.

"There are no mitigating circumstances for his actions and I am pleased that a custodial sentence has been imposed.

"His imprisonment means he cannot target other innocent victims in such brazen fashion."

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