A man has been jailed for two years and eight months after he grabbed a woman in the early hours of the morning and stole her handbag.

Michael Hayes, from Edmonton, was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Monday (August 19) after he pleaded guilty to a robbery in Hemel Hempstead on Thursday, January 11.

The court heard a woman was walking along St John’s Road at sometime between 4am and 4.20am when 54-year-old Hayes grabbed and verbally threatened her to get into a vehicle.

The victim collapsed to the floor in fear and her handbag was stolen before the suspect left the area.

Michael Hayes was jailed for two years and eight months on Monday.Michael Hayes was jailed for two years and eight months on Monday. (Image: Hertfordshire Police)

Dacorum Police reviewed hundreds of hours of CCTV footage, issued a public appeal for witnesses and used automatic number plate technology as part of the “extensive” investigation.

Hayes was arrested seven days later after his DNA was discovered on the victim’s scarf and handbag, which had been discarded inside a bin on Parkwood Drive.

He was initially charged with attempted kidnap as well as robbery, although this was dropped before his trial at St Albans Crown Court.

During the hearing, the judge praised detectives, describing their investigation as “painstaking" and "impressive”. 

Hayes was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Monday.Hayes was sentenced at St Albans Crown Court on Monday. (Image: ©2019 Archant) Leading investigator Lisa Brown said: “Women should be able to walk alone at any time of day without fearing for their safety and I know this incident caused a great deal of concern among the local community.

“This was a huge investigation, with detectives from across the unit working long hours to identify a suspect with very little information to go on initially. 

“The victim has shown great courage throughout, and I am pleased that we have been able to secure a prison sentence. We will always do everything we can to bring offenders to justice.”