Jodie Johnson, 18, whose last known address is Acacia Avenue, Maltby, and her accomplice, Kirsty Elsom, 20 of Psalters Lane, Holmes, Rotherham, appeared at Sheffield Crown Court where they were both convicted of robbery.

Elsom, who also admitted the charge, was sentenced to four years in prison for the attack which happened on Saturday 14th June.

The women were also the subjects of anti-social behaviour orders (ASBO) for separate offences at the time and by committing this offence, they were both in breach of these orders.

Nineteen-year-old Kirsty Ellis of Rotherham was walking through the town centre after having been shopping at around 11.30pm when the incident happened.

Elsom and Johnson had been drinking in a nearby pub and targeted the victim when they came out. After demanding her shopping from her, the pair dragged her to the ground and repeatedly kicked her in the head and ribs and caused her facial injuries before snatching her shopping and running away.

Johnson will be brought back to court on Monday 1st September for sentencing after her defence team applied for psychiatric reports to be made on their client.

Det Con Scott Walker of South Yorkshire Police said Elsom's sentence was appropriate for her crime.

"It was a vicious, unprovoked and sustained attack on a lone female for which the defendants have shown no remorse for their actions," he said.

"CCTV has been instrumental in securing a conviction and should act as a warning to those thinking about committing a crime in the town centre."

"From a police point of view, we are pleased with the sentence as far as Elsom is concerned because we think that it reflects the level of violence used."

"The complainant is also pleased and feels that justice has been done. She fortunately does not have any permanent injury and is making a gradual recovery."