A thug who punched a heavily pregnant shopkeeper in the stomach has been jailed at the second time of asking.

James Edwards attacked Siyamini Rajeevan, who was eight months pregnant, after stealing alcohol and food from Loose Road’s Mediterranean Supermarket in April.

The father-of-one, of Hampshire Drive, Shepway, was convicted of the offence last month but was spared prison, instead being handed a 126-day suspended sentence.

But just three weeks later the 23-year-old flouted the ruling by persistently phoning Kent Police and making vile comments.

Maidstone Magistrates’ Court heard how a heavily intoxicated Edwards dialled 999 five times at 4am on Thursday, September 1, declaring he was Bob Marley, threatening to kick someone’s head in and calling the call handler a “malt” – a slang term for a woman.

He also made obscene remarks, saying: “The only emergency I have is I need [to have sex]” and told the operator he had been stabbed.

His friends could be heard sniggering in the background. He admitted making threatening phone calls at the hearing.

Pam Young, for the probation service, said: “At the time of his last court appearance he said he’d stopped drinking and didn’t hang around with the same friends. Clearly that’s not true.

“The fact that barely three weeks later he has done this shows utter disregard for the court. It would make a mockery of the suspended sentence order not to activate it.”

Magistrates activated the order in full and sentenced Edwards to a further five days for the latest offence. He must also pay £115.