Two robbers who punched and kicked a passer-by to the ground in a violent town centre attack have been put behind bars.

Alex Bull and Oliver Lee approached a man in Margate demanding he buy Valium tablets from them - before stripping him of his belongings.

When he refused to purchase any tablets, the greedy pair followed the victim, pushed him to the ground and attacked him.

Bull, 39, and Lee, 28, stole £20 from him after ripping his shirt.

His phone was taken from his hand, which Bull squeezed so hard that the victim feared his fingers had been broken in the process.

Lee handed back the victim’s keys but Bull would only return the phone when offered another £20.

The innocent victim, who was in his 50s, had arranged to meet someone in Oxford Street during the evening of January 30 when he was approached and assaulted by the pair.

Appearing at Canterbury Crown Court yesterday, they both pleaded guilty to the robbery and Bull was jailed for three-and-a-half years, while Lee received a three-year custodial sentence.

Both men have no fixed addresses and were charged with one count of robbery.

They were identified by police a day after the attack and arrested.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Richard Cordery said: "Regardless of what is stolen, being a victim of robbery is frightening and can leave people very anxious as they are left coming to terms with such an attack.

"This pair were aggressive and greedy, targeting someone simply because they could and because they wanted cash.

"I hope losing their liberty makes them reconsider their attitudes."

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