A brave pensioner with a heart condition told a teenager who tried to rob him at knifepoint to "jog on", a court heard.

Anthony Harris confronted David Cook, 72, after tracking him from the Nationwide building society in Gravesend, before brandishing a pen knife as he demanded money.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the victim swore at him, and the teenager then lunged forward with the blade and cut his hand.

Harris fled empty-handed but was arrested and police officers found the knife in his coat pocket.

The 18-year-old, of no fixed address, denied attempted robbery but was convicted following a trial.

He admitted possessing an offensive weapon, shoplifting and criminal damage to an Asda security barrier and received a 15-month community order.

Prosecutor Sarah Lindop said Mr Cook had withdrawn £250 from a cashpoint in Windmill Street at about 2pm on November 27, 2019.

He then realised he was being followed by Harris, who he had seen using the same cash machine ahead of him.

"Mr Cook turned around and asked him what he wanted, to which the reply was 'money'.' He noticed his eyes went downwards and saw he was holding a knife in his right hand, a pen knife with a three-quarter inch blade."

The prosecutor added: "Rather bravely, Mr Cook said 'Go on mate, jog on, to which the defendant repeated 'money' and lunged at him, cutting the back of his hand."

The court heard Mr Cook, who has a heart condition, later told police he believed Harris had seen him as "an easy touch" after spotting him at the cashpoint.

He added: "I don't like to think what might have happened with my heart. I have lost faith in human nature because I didn't think someone would come at me with a knife."

Jack Triggs, defending, said the teenager, diagnosed with ADHD, had been repeatedly homeless but was currently in emergency accommodation in Gravesend.

The judge, Recorder Sarah Elliott QC, said she had taken into account several "positive" reports from the youth offending team and the probation service.

"It seems I should also give you the opportunity to continue to rehabilitate yourself, to put these offences behind you....while working with the probation service to deal with the difficulties you have had in life and your offending behaviour," she told Harris.

He was also ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and attend several probation-run programmes.

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