A jail term has been handed down to a man who carried out a violent robbery at a Post Office in Herne Bay.
Jon Pughe stole cash from the till of the business in Margate Road on Saturday 12 February 2022 after hitting a member of staff in the face.
He was tracked down and arrested later the same day, before being charged with, and then admitting, robbery.
The 41-year-old, of Clifftown Gardens, Herne Bay, was jailed for six years at Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday 9 June.
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Offence
Pughe entered the Post Office at around 5.15pm on the day of the offence, wearing a balaclava and holding a crowbar.
He hit a member of staff in the face with his hand before taking a large amount of cash from the till and making off.
Officers went to the scene and obtained CCTV showing the robber leaving the area in a white Renault van.
The vehicle was later linked to Pughe and patrols in Herne Bay carried out searches for him that evening.
He was located in the town centre and arrested at around 11.45pm. The van used during the offence was found in the Broomfield area.
Quick response
Amongst other evidence, officers showed that the jeans Pughe was wearing when he was arrested had a tear in an identical position to those worn by the robber in CCTV footage from the store.
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Detective Chief Inspector Keith Taylor, from East Kent Criminal Investigation Department, said: ‘Pughe’s violent actions were terrifying for the victim of this robbery, who was just doing her job serving the local community.
‘I am pleased that the quick response of officers on the day led to him being arrested just hours after the crime, and our thorough investigation left him no choice but to admit this offence.’