A MAN has been jailed for a violent robbery in Chester that left a woman covered in blood with a missing tooth and £65 taken from inside her bra.

Jack Edmonds – who was sentenced to three years and five months - had led victim Kelly Downs up a dark alleyway with the promise of buying some cocaine at around midnight on July 15 this year.

The pair were strangers and had only met that day when their respective groups had begun chatting in a pub.

A neighbour who had his window open after getting out of the bath overheard Miss Downs express “apprehension” at being led down an alley off Sibell Street, near the railway station.

Chester Crown Court heard today (Friday, September 14) that the next thing he heard was a “loud thud” shortly followed by “the sound of running feet”.

Peter Hussey, prosecuting, said that just before the attack Edmonds, 21, had asked Miss Downs, 37, if she would have sex with him if he bought “an extra gram” of cocaine.

At this point she told him in no uncertain terms that she would not go into the alleyway with him and turned to walk away.

“That’s the last thing she remembers until she realises she’s on the floor injured, the man had run off, her handbag was scattered nearby and the cash that had been tucked into her bra was gone,” Mr Hussey told the court.

“Her tooth was also missing and she was covered in blood.”

Miss Downs began knocking on doors before one neighbour allowed her in to call the police.

Officers were quickly on the scene and, after speaking to taxi drivers at the nearby station, learnt Edmonds was on his way to Rock Ferry in Wirral.

In a move described by Judge Roger Dutton as “a good bit of detective work”, they apprehended and arrested him as he arrived at his destination by cab.

Mr Hussey told the court that Edmonds later claimed that Miss Downs had tried to rob him with a knife and he punched her in self-defence.

However, he had a change of heart by the time the case reached the court and pleaded guilty to robbery.

In a victim impact statement, Miss Downs said she had been left with both physical and psychological scars after the attack. She had trouble sleeping and was struggling to cope.

“She was frightened to show her face to her family,” Mr Hussey added.

Oliver King, defending, stressed his client was of previous good character with no previous convictions and had admitted what he did.

He has worked all his life in a warehouse, as a porter and in telesales, and has an IT qualification.

Edmonds has been living with his girlfriend in a three-bedroom property on Corbet Avenue in Shawbury, Shropshire.

“He’s a decent, hard-working young man and he’s at a loss to explain why he behaved in this way towards this woman,” Mr King said. “He is equally ashamed.”

Upon being shown the graphic images of Miss Downs’ injuries, the barrister said his client was “visibly upset by what he saw. He couldn’t believe he had done that.”

Jailing Edmonds, Judge Dutton told him: “This was a nasty attack on a woman who you had taken down a dark alleyway in order to commit this offence, late at night in our city.

“Someone who does that deserves to lose their liberty.”

* After the hearing, Detective Constable Tom Philpotts, of Chester CID, said: “Edmonds led the victim towards a secluded area knowing that he was going to assault her and take her money.

“With only the thought of money on his mind Edmonds didn’t hesitate when carrying out his violent attack. He left her unconscious on the floor and then scared and upset when she woke to find herself covered in blood.

“This was a violent and callous crime. I hope Edmonds admitting his guilt will help the victim to move on from this as she comes to terms with her terrifying ordeal.”