A man who strangled and robbed woman for her £1,500 gold chain in an ‘appalling level of violence’ whilst she was making her way to a wedding is behind bars.

The victim had been walking along the road in broad daylight with her husband and three children when Mason Lindsay, 19, and an unidentified accomplice rode up to her on bicycles.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said the woman was strangled from behind and punched twice, with force, to the throat.

At this point three of her gold necklaces were pulled off from her.

She was then pulled by the hair backwards, and brought down to the pavement where her head struck the concrete, the spokesperson said.

Lindsay and his associate then made off on foot towards London Road in Mitcham.

Two mechanics who had been working in close proximity to the assault and had witnessed the events then chased after the two men.

They confronted them and managed to recover one necklace and a set of Apple iPhone headphones. One of the witnesses also kicked Lindsay's bicycle to stop him from cycling away.

The police spokesperson said Lindsay then fell from his bike at which point he ran off, leaving the bicycle at the scene. Lindsay's associate also made off on his bicycle.

Police officers attended the scene and were able to locate one more necklace left at the location. The victim was treated by paramedics from the London Ambulance Service for her injuries, but she did not require hospital treatment.

Lindsay's DNA was located on the bicycle's handle bars, ear phones and necklace, the spokesperson said.

The incident took place in Bond Road, Mitcham at about midday on Saturday, October 19.

Lindsay, of Fairmead Road, Croydon, was subsequently arrested two days later and remanded in custody. He was charged with robbery on Tuesday, April 8 this year.

Lindsay was sentenced to five years in a young offenders institute at Kingston Crown Court on Friday, July 11.

He admitted one charge of robbery and was ordered to pay £120 as a victim surcharge.

DC Mike Bunn, of the burglary squad at Merton said: "The level of violence which was used against this woman is appalling and this would have been a harrowing ordeal for her husband and children to have witnessed.

"We recognise and commend the actions of the by-standers who chased the suspects and bravely tried to tackle them and seize the stolen property back.

"Fortunately we were able to reunite the victim with two of her three high value necklaces and identify Lindsay quickly with the compelling forensic evidence."