THREE men have each been jailed for five years by a judge at Maidstone Crown Court for a "wicked" robbery.

The court heard how the victim, Muhammed Hakim, was mugged in an alleyway close to Chatham railway station as he was on his way home just after midnight on May 31 this year.

Darren Blayney, 24, Ryan Christie, 26, and Michael Millen, 29, set upon Mr Hakim when there was nobody to help him, said Judge Andrew Patience.

They threatened him with a knife and robbed him of his possessions, including a mobile phone and cash cards. The incident took place to fuel the gang's drug habits, the jury was told.

All three men denied robbery. Sentencing the gang, the judge stressed: "The public and courts are sick to death of those who rob people in the street at knifepoint. It is no excuse that it is done to fund a drug habit.

"It is a wicked offence. It instils the victim with feelings of terror and fright. Unless the court marks what it and the public thinks about it by passing a substantial sentence it is clear the message won't get out that it is intolerable."

Jenny Goldring, prosecuting, said that after the robbery Mr Hakim went straight to a public call box and telephoned the police. He told them he recognised the three as living in a nearby squat.

Mr Hakim was taken in a police car which parked close to 101 Ordnance Street, Chatham. An identification procedure took place and, as each man emerged from the house, he identified them and they were arrested.

In the witness box Mr Hakim said: "I'm still scared in case someone attacks me."

Giving evidence, the defendants insisted they had not been out that evening. They knew Mr Hakim but claimed they had nothing to do with the robbery.

The judge told the three men: "When he (Mr Hakim) courageously reports the matter and picks you out, you then come to court and show not the slightest remorse for what you have done."