A bully who mugged a vulnerable man of his bike will now have to miss the forthcoming birth of his first child after being jailed.

Canterbury Crown Court heard Charlie Willett, from Faversham, deliberately picked on his victim in the street last month as he considered him to be an "easy target" who would not put up a fight.

The 24-year-old was already riding a bicycle when he blocked the man's path in Lower Road, Ospringe, and demanded he hand over his £650, "pristine" Giant-branded one.

When met with a refusal, Willett wrestled it from his grasp by threatening violence and then rode off, nonchalantly gesturing to take his.

The victim refused however, fearing that one had also been stolen, and although his bike was eventually returned to him it was by then damaged.

It was also said that Willett, who has 12 previous convictions for 36 offences, had previously stolen as many as four cycles from the same man.

But with the prolific thief often weeping during his sentencing hearing, his lawyer Phil Rowley told the court that although the dad-to-be was "realistic" about having to miss his child's birth in February, he hoped to serve his time, reunite with his family and "avoid the courts" in the future.

"It was his view that the defendant knew he was an easy target because it wasn't in his nature to fight back...”

This prompted Judge Simon Taylor KC to remark: "No better time than when becoming a father for the first time."

Prosecutor Amy Nicholson told how the defendant and the victim, said to have mental health issues, had known each other for several years and lived in the same area.

"He said the defendant had stolen items from him in the past, starting off small with things such as cigarettes and his phone to use, and then that escalated to him having stolen a total of four bikes before this occasion," she told the court.

"It was his view that the defendant knew he was an easy target because it wasn't in his nature to fight back."

It was at about midday on October 7 that Willett, who was among a group of people, saw the victim out cycling and, having blocked his path and grabbed the handlebars, declared he wanted to "have a go" on it.

"The owner said he was busy so the defendant grabbed hold of the bike, trying to wrestle it from him. He tried to reason with the defendant but he then said 'I'll knock you out if you don't let go' and drew his arm back as if to punch," continued the prosecutor.

"Frightened the violence would escalate and he might be harmed, he gave up the bike. The defendant rode off, gesturing to his own bike and saying to take it. But the victim feared that one was also stolen so didn't."

The robbery was later reported to police and Willett abandoned the bike, by now damaged, at a friend's house.

The victim later told police he now felt "hesitant" to cycle and to own "anything nice" because he feared Willett taking his belongings.

"There was targeting by this defendant, who had targeted him in the past and knew he would face little or no resistance from someone who was a vulnerable person because of his mental health difficulties," added Miss Nicholson.

“His anxiety is to serve his sentence, get out, be with his partner and child and avoid the courts in the future...”

The court also heard the expectant father was just 10 days into a community order imposed for shoplifting and possessing cannabis when he targeted the bike, and in the intervening four months had racked up further convictions for theft and assaulting an emergency worker.

Willett, of Abbots Road, Faversham, admitted robbery as well as failing to surrender to court bail on November 6.

Appearing for sentencing on Friday via prison video link, he could be seen crying as his lawyer spoke of his "chaotic" childhood and the death of his mum from cancer in June.

This was said to have had a profound impact on him and led to "inappropriate" alcohol use.

Mr Rowley also told the court his client was "someone who functions at a level below his chronological age" and described the robbery as being the type usually heard by the youth court.

But referring to the inevitable jail term faced and missing out on the arrival of his baby, he added: "He is realistic that he would be serving a sentence beyond the birth of his child.

"But his anxiety is to serve his sentence, get out, be with his partner and child and avoid the courts in the future. He expresses the wish to do that and one hopes he will."

Jailing Willett for 80 weeks, and consecutive to the 16-week term he is currently serving for unrelated matters, Judge Taylor told him to see it as "a lesson" on how crime impacts others.

"The offence of robbery could seem quite childish for you and limited violence was used. But can you imagine somebody physically domineering doing that to you while you were just going about your business?" he asked.

"This young man should be free to ride his bike in his town as he so wishes and not be robbed by someone who sees him as an easy target.

"For you, a momentary act of violence but something that can impact on him for a long time."

Willett, who was also made subject to a five-year restraining order, thanked the judge at the end of the hearing.