TWO women who carried out a vicious city centre robbery which left their victim covered in blood were jailed for more than seven years.

Sinead Sandell, 30, and Gemma Vanstone, 28, attacked the woman in Newport’s Commercial Street after asking her for drugs and money.

Prosecutor Richard Ace told Cardiff Crown Court how their victim was left crying after being punched to the ground.

Judge Nicola Jones heard how the complainant was talking to her grandfather on her mobile phone when she was set upon.

Mr Ace said Vanstone floored her with a punch to the nose before Sandell shouted at her: “If you don’t get up, I’m going to kick you. The victim was crying and covered in blood.”

The duo then stole her phone and £40 cash and were laughing as they made their getaway.

Sandell and Vanstone, both of Westgate Court, Caerleon, pleaded guilty to robbery – committed on December 5 last year – before their trial was due to start.

Mr Ace said that in the complainant’s victim personal statement, she told how she feared she would be a “grass in the community” and had moved away in fear of reprisals.

The court heard how Vanstone had 34 previous convictions for 72 offences, including two attempted robberies on her record from 2010.

Sandell had 27 previous convictions for 71 offences which included a 2014 conviction for robbery.

The pair were in a “relationship” the judge was told.

Julia Cox, for Vanstone, said the defendant’s life had been “blighted by drugs misuse”.

Ben Waters, representing Sandell, told the court how his client had qualifications in hairdressing and also had a history of substance abuse.

He said: “She is apologetic for her behaviour.”

Judge Jones told the defendants: “This was a particularly nasty attack. There were two of you and there was one of her.”

She told Sandell, “You said to her, ‘I’m going to kick you in the head,’” before adding to them both “you are a bit old for this”.

The pair were each jailed for three years and seven months.

Outside the court, Detective Constable Alistair Frame, Gwent Police’s officer in the case, said: "We welcome the sentence imposed on Sinead Sandell and Gemma Vanstone.

“This was a particularly serious incident resulting in nasty injuries to the victim. I would like to thank the victim for her bravery and for supporting the police investigation.

“We will continue to tackle such serious crime and bring offenders to justice.”