A violent would-be robber who battered a female Post Office worker in her 60s with a claw hammer in Gravesend has been jailed for nearly seven years.

Daryl McNamee, 28, of Jenningtree Road, Erith, was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court today (April 22) after he admitted attempted robbery and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

He got six years and eight months for attempted robbery and three years for ABH, to run concurrently.

McNamee and two accomplices burst into the Valley Parade Post Office in Valley Drive, Gravesend, at around 2pm on July 2, 2013 while the victim was stocking shelves behind the counter.

Wearing a boiler suit, gloves and balaclava, McNamee leapt over the counter, grabed the victim around the neck and bludgeoned her twice on the head with a claw hammer.

She was pushed to the ground, partially unconscious, whilst a second man tried to smash the glass partition to the room where the postmistress was enclosed.

A third man acted as lookout at the doorway, as McNamee tried to smash the glass panel.

He then tried to force the till open, before ripping it from the counter and dropped it on the victim lying at his feet – it did not land on her head because of a small chair.

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The three men ran out empty-handed and made their getaway in a stolen Audi A3, from a burglary in Blackfen, London.

This was abandoned a short distance away and robbers drove off in a Mercedes, also stolen at a burglary in Croydon. This was later recovered by police.

A search of the Mercedes by Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate revealed an identical pair of gloves to those worn by the man who had attacked the victim.

Forensic examination of the gloves revealed McNamee’s DNA and glass fragments which were matched to the glass in the Post Office door.

On the January 31, 2014 McNamee appeared at Inner London Crown Court where he pleaded guilty to attempted robbery and assault.

Investigating officer DC Paul Walker of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate said: “This was a sickeningly violent and gratuitous attack on a woman in her 60s who was just trying to do her job.

“McNamee showed no mercy towards her, even attempting to drop the heavy till on her head as she lay semi-conscious at his feet.

“It does not bear thinking about the sort of damage that could have done had his aim not have been blocked by the wooden stool.

“The victim of this frenzied assault has been left picking up the pieces and is still unable to return to work.

“I would like to pay tribute to her fortitude in assisting us with this investigation and hope McNamee's sentence allows her some closure on her ordeal.

“We will continue to work to bring to justice the other men responsible for this heinous attack.”

Police are still trying to identify the two other men involved.

Call 01474 330519, quoting XY/20245/13 with information or call Kent Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.