A brutal robbery at knifepoint in Slough's Salt Hill Park, two burglaries and an attempted burglary earned 30-year-old Ashley Smith a five year prison sentence on Monday.

Smith, of Odencroft Road, Slough, appeared at Reading Crown Court to be sentenced in connection with four incidents which took place between December, 2016 and August this year.

At around 6pm on July 29 a 21-year-old woman was walking through Salt Hill Park in Slough to meet a friend, when Smith cycled past and asked her for a cigarette.

He then stopped to check on his bike chain and as the victim got closer, he pointed a knife at her and demanded her purse. He threatened to cut her face and then grabbed hold of the purse strap and cut it before cycling away with the purse.

Smith was arrested for the offence on 18 August and charged the following day.

On December 15, 2016, Smith attempted to gain entry to a house on Odencroft Road to commit a burglary but was disturbed by the occupants. He was arrested for that offence on the same day and charged on March 24.

On two occasions on August 7 and 8 this year Smith entered a secure bike shed on Dundee Road, Slough and stole bikes belonging to two people. He was arrested for both offences on August 18 and charged the following day.

At last week’s sentencing, Smith pleaded guilty to all of the offences and was sentenced to a total of five years in prison.

He received four years for the robbery with a two year concurrent sentence for possession of an offensive weapon, 12 months consecutively for the attempted burglary and two six months concurrent sentences for the two burglaries.

Following the sentencing, investigating officer PC Edward Elms from Slough Police Station said: “These were all despicable acts and I am pleased with the sentence given to him. Thames Valley Police will strive to work to bring offenders to justice in this way, especially for offences such as this which have a huge impact on the victims and cause a lot of concern to the public."