A GRAVESEND thug who robbed an 88-year-old woman of £600 in her own home has been jailed for nearly seven years.

Balbinder Hayer, 27, of Augustine Road, pleaded guilty to robbery and was sentenced at Maidstone Crown Court on April 5 to six years and nine months in prison.

Hayer forced his way into the pensioner’s home in Mead Road, Gravesend, on January 26, pushing her over which left her with a bruised cheek bone and eye socket before stealing £600 from a purse.

The court heard Hayer knocked the woman over after forcing his way into the property and began shouting: “Where’s your money?”

The victim replied that she didn’t have any but Hayer pushed her with both hands, causing her to fall and hit her face on a cabinet.

The woman managed to press her personal alarm and told the lifeline operator that she was being burgled.

The offender then took her purse and left the house, running down an alleyway. The victim was only able to get up when her son arrived to help her 15 minutes later and police were called.

CCTV footage showed Hayer going to the property and minutes later running away down an alleyway holding something under his jacket.

He was recognised by an officer and was arrested on January 28.

Detectives also managed to find a witness who picked Hayer out of an identity procedure.

Detective Constable Martin Younger said: “Despite her physical frailty, the victim showed great courage trying to defend herself from her attacker.

“The circumstances of this offence are quite appalling.

“Hayer has committed a contemptible crime and it’s good news that he is now off the streets for a considerable length of time, where he cannot continue preying on the vulnerable.”