A mugger who punched a man in the face has been jailed for more than two-and-a-half years.

David Williams, 29, and his teenage accomplice had each downed 15 cans of beer and a litre of Bacardi Breezer when they struck, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Both pleaded guilty to attempting to rob Steven Riley in Brook Street, Ilkley, on December 6 last year.

Prosecutor Jonathan Devlin said Mr Riley was targeted at about 9pm after he left a pub in the town.

Williams, of Kensington Street, Girlington, punched him in the mouth and demanded his phone.

A police patrol car was passing and officers jumped out and gave chase.

They caught Williams and his accomplice, who was just 16 at the time.

Mr Riley kept hold of his phone but suffered cuts to his lips, Mr Devlin said.

The defendants told the police they wanted to sell the phone to buy more beer.

Stephen Couch, for the youth, now aged 17, said he regretted the drunken plan and had told Mr Riley not to hand over his phone. He did not use any violence and Williams blamed himself for the robbery bid.

Michelle Colborne, Williams’s barrister, conceded he saw Mr Riley as an easy target and punched him once.

She said he and the teenager had downed a tremendous quantity of alcohol that night.

Williams had since cut back dramatically on his drinking and was actively seeking work.

The judge, Recorder David Kelly, said the muggers deliberately selected a lone victim after dark.

He sentenced Williams to two years and eight months’ imprisonment.

The judge said the teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, was on the periphery of the offence and did not need to be locked up.

He sentenced him to a six month Youth Rehabilitation Order.