Robber kicked Leeds hospital worker in head after targeting him at bus stop as he made his way to work

Jonathan Brown was locked up for four years and eight months over the vicious attack in Armley on June 24 this year.

Leeds Crown Court heard the hospital worker was waiting for a bus on Town Street at 7am when he saw Brown walking towards him without his top on.

Bashir Ahmed, prosecuting, said the victim feared that there was going to be trouble and started to walk away.

Brown followed him and said to the man: "I'm going to spend the next ten minutes following you."

The defendant threw beer cans at him before coming up behind him and grabbing his bag from his shoulder.

Brown then ran away but the victim followed him and saw him climb under a fence to get into a commercial yard.

Mr Ahmed said the victim began to climb under the fence but Brown kicked him in the head as he was on all fours.

He was knocked to the ground and was dazed.

Brown then said "let's see what you've got" before turning him over and taking his mobile phone, house key and wallet from his pockets.

Members of the public contacted police when they saw the victim distressed and covered in blood.

Brown was identified from CCTV footage of the attack.

He refused to comment when interviewed by police.

Brown later pleaded guilty to robbery.

The 36-year-old has 14 previous convictions for robbery. He was locked up for ten years for robbery offences in 2004.

Shila Whitehead, mitigating, said Brown accepted he would be facing a lengthy prison sentence because of his criminal record.

The barrister said Brown had mental health problems which he was receiving help for in custody.

Jailing Brown, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC said: "This was a nasty, unpleasant robbery.

"It was persistent and there is an element of you using more force than was necessary to commit this offence.

"He was clearly very shocked and clearly very distressed. The sort of offence that I have no doubt will live long with him."

The judge warned Brown he faces the possibility of a life sentence if he commits another robbery offence in the future.