A man who snatched a £4,000 necklace from a woman during a robbery at a nightclub in Westminster has been spared a jail sentence.

Jordan James Kearney ripped the valuable piece of jewellery off the neck of the woman as she danced at the club Rupert Street in Soho shortly before Christmas.

He was given a 12 month prison sentence suspended for two years at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday (February 16), having pleading guilty to a charge of robbery at an earlier hearing.

The court heard the 29-year-old, from Dulverton Drive, Milton Keynes, had handed the chain to security at the nightclub before police had been alerted, saying he had helped retrieve the item. But CCTV footage clearly showed him taking the item.

The victim had been dancing at the club with her boyfriend at around 2am on December 21.

The boyfriend had placed his necklace around her neck and walked off the dance floor when she grabbed him and said a man in a white T-shirt had yanked it from her neck.

They went to the venue’s security to report it and the police were called, but before officers arrived Kearney had returned the chain.

However, he was arrested on suspicion of robbery and charged on January 15, before entering his guilty plea on January 20.

Detective Constable Richard Kidd, the investigating officer from Westminster’s Major Crime Unit , said: “This was a nasty crime that left both victims very distressed. I am pleased that the victim was reunited with his property.

“Luckily neither victim was seriously injured in the robbery. I’d like to thank the victims and the nightclub with their assistance in helping to bring Kearney to justice.”

Kearney was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of community service within 12 months and to pay a victim surcharge of £140.

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