A mugger repeatedly threatened a man with a claw hammer late at night before fleeing with his almost empty bag.

Tobe Ideh confronted his victim in Wellington Street, Gravesend, shortly after midnight on May 28 last year.

Having struck what was described at Maidstone Crown Court as a glancing blow to the man's arm, he then demanded "give me the bag" before holding the weapon as if to hit him again.

Prosecutor Suzanne Fewins said the victim, who had been walking home, revealed it contained very little, only for his assailant to swing the hammer in front of him and repeat it should be handed over.

At this point the bag was thrown to the ground and 25-year-old Ideh ran off with it towards Milton Road, where within minutes he was captured on CCTV walking across a garage forecourt carrying his loot.

He was later arrested in New Road, giving a false name and claiming the hammer in his waistband was one he had bought for his uncle the previous day.

Ms Fewins said he also had a balaclava and gloves in his manbag.

The stolen bag contained a driving licence, house keys, two USB sticks and clothing.

Ideh, of Hathaway Road in Grays, Essex, later pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an offensive weapon.

He has previous convictions for possessing a knife, shoplifting and battery but at his sentencing hearing on Wednesday last week (November 13), he told Judge Julian Smith from the dock that he had "changed" in the 18 months he had been in custody on remand since his arrest.

Ideh was jailed for two-and-a-half years and, on being told that his release would be immediate due to time served, he grinned and replied: "Thank you very, very much!