A thug who robbed a man of his wallet before racially abusing and assaulting shop staff has been jailed.

Luke Pope, of Berridge Road, Sheerness, pulled the victim into an alleyway near Ashford High Street before stealing his wallet and other items in the early hours of Saturday, March 7.

The man had been on his way home after a night out.

Around six hours after the robbery, Pope used his victim's credit card to buy scratchcards from a supermarket. When he returned to the store a second time, he became aggressive after the card was declined.

He threw a sign at a member of staff, made racially abusive comments and jumped onto a counter before police arrived and arrested him.

A check of the victim's bank records showed the assailant had also used the card to buy alcohol in a nightclub.

Pope, 31, appeared at Canterbury Crown Court on Monday, April 6 and admitted robbery, fraud, racially aggravated harassment and assault.

"Offending of this kind is totally unacceptable"

He was jailed for three years and four months at the same court on Wednesday.

Detective Constable Kirsty Gee said: "Pope put the victim of his robbery through a terrifying ordeal, which will have had a long-term impact.

"Pope's violent and abusive actions will also have affected shop staff, who were just trying to do their job at the time.

"Offending of this kind is totally unacceptable and Kent Police will work to track down anyone who commits violent crime and bring them to justice."

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