A POLISH immigrant who robbed a woman at a cash machine just weeks after arriving in the country has been jailed.

Mateusz Maslanka knocked his victim to the ground so he could snatch the bank notes as they came out of the machine.

But the 24-year-old only grabbed £10, which he spent on booze soon after the drunken attack, a judge was told.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said victim Stella Edwards had gone to the cash machine at Tesco in Ocotal Way at about 6pm on Saturday, January 12.

Mr Meeke told the court that as she was putting her card away in her purse her money came out and the defendant grabbed it.

Miss Edwards tried to stop him and grab the money back but Maslanka pushed her to the ground.

A man who saw the early evening attack, and security staff at the shop, chased the robber but could not catch him.

Mr Meeke said the defendant was arrested later that day behaving strangely at the railway station. Officers recognised him from the CCTV footage at the supermarket.

Maslanka, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to robbery.

Rob Ross, defending, said he could tell the court little about his client's background as he refused to open up to him.

The court was told the Pole refused to come out of his cell to see a probation officer who had gone to the prison with an interpreter to compile a pre-sentence report.

Mr Ross said Maslanka had only been in the country for a couple of months before the robbery and was homeless and desperate at the time.

He said he came to the UK looking for work but had failed to find a job, not helped by his poor English.

Having seen the CCTV he pointed out there were lots of people about and it was clear that his client would be caught.

Mr Ross told the court that Maslanska was sorry for what he had done and that he wished to apologise to the victim.

Jailing him for a year Recorder Ian Pringle QC said: "You told the police that you were very drunk at the time but you must understand that drinking is no excuse.

"We can't tolerate in this country people behaving as you did that night."