A beggar who dragged a man by the neck with a dog lead while demanding his mobile phone has been jailed for more than five years.

Andrew Nathan Spears, 28, of Brownroyd Avenue, Rawthorpe, was convicted of robbery at Bradford Crown Court on Friday.

The court heard how self-confessed heroin addict Spears had been begging in the St Johns area of Huddersfield on December 12 last year when he was approached by a man who gave him some money and started talking to him.

They chatted for a short time before walking off together towards St Johns Road.

But it was then that Spears viciously attacked him from behind with the dog chain, demanding his phone.

Detective Pete Usher, of Kirklees CID, said: “This was a brutal attack against an innocent victim and we welcome the sentence.

“Spears now has a long time in prison to consider the consequences of his actions. The sentence should send out a loud and clear message that street robbery is a serious crime and one that is taken seriously by the courts.

As a result of the incident the 29-year-old victim was left in shock, with scratches to his face and reddening to his neck.

Spears was sentenced to five years and five months.

At a previous hearing Spears told the court via his solicitor that he had been addicted to drugs since he was 14 and turned to theft to support his heroin and crack cocaine addiction.

Spears’ previous convictions included theft of cosmetics worth £150 and possession of a pen knife in a public place.