A THURROCK man has been jailed for four and a half years after admitting a violent assault which saw him strike a 15-year-old girl with a hammer.

Rocky Price, 26, of Lodge lane, Grays admitted robbery and wounding with intent after an incident when he forced his way into a woman's house and forced her to hand over cash totaling, £7,600.

During the incident Price picked up and swung a hammer at the woman, but hit her daughter, who had intervened instead.

After that he stole the keys to the woman's van and drove off before crashing near Langdon Hills. He was unhurt in the crash.

In mitigation, before he passed sentence, Judge Ian Graham was told Price had not gone to the property armed and had taken nothing of sentimental value.