Robber armed with axe in Clacton jailed for six years
The woman used the weapon to smash her way into a flat.
Kelly Luckhurst was evicted from a multi-occupancy house on Dudley Road, Clacton, and tried to regain entry on 23rd May this year.
She was refused by the 64-year-old resident, and returned in the early hours on 25th May accompanied by a 17-year-old boy.
They smashed a window with an axe to can access the building and tried to force open the victim's front door, before smashing one of the flat's windows and climbing through.
The teenager threatened the victim with a knife while Luckhurst stole her purse and tablet device.
Before they left they threatened the resident and told her not to say anything, and the boy hid the knife under her bed.
They were arrested outside the building shortly after.
32-year-old Luckhurst, of St Clair Road in St Osyth, was jailed for six years on 15th September after admitting robbery previously.
She was also handed a 10 year restraining order.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was sentenced last month to a 12 month referral order and ordered to pay £250 compensation.
He admitted robbery and possession of an offensive weapon in a public place a day after the incident.
Detective Sergeant Dan Jeffries said: "They used an extreme level of violence and this was a truly horrific incident for the victim.
"Thanks to the quick response from local officers, both Luckhurst and her accomplice were arrested shortly after the incident.
"The strength of evidence we secured meant they could only ever plead guilty to their crimes.
"Fortunately incidents like this are rare, but when they do happen we will do everything we can to bring offenders to justice and keep our community safe."