A VIOLENT robber who headbutted a man in a pub garden then stole his wallet and phone while he was out cold has been jailed.

Peter Andrew Brant, 33, was sentenced to two-and-a half years in jail, after he admitted robbing a man he met on an afternoon drinking in York pubs.

York Crown Court heard Brant had met his victim, Martin Tunnicliffe, while both men were out with their girlfriends on October 18. They decided to go to the Crystal Palace pub on Holgate Road together to play pool, stopping on the way for Mr Tunnicliffe to withdraw cash from an ATM, prosecutor Helen Wheatley said.

But when they got to the Crystal Palace they found it was closed. CCTV caught Brant headbutting Mr Tunnicliffe so he collapsed unconscious, then rolling him over and stealing his mobile phone and wallet.

The attack was not reported until pub staff found blood in the beer garden, and watched the CCTV footage from the afternoon. The court heard Mr Tunnicliffe, who had been drinking heavily, had no memory of the robbery.

He only “put two and two together” when he saw press coverage of a police appeal for the victim to come forward.

Brant’s defence barrister, Andrew Teate, said he knew what he had done was wrong, but was angry that Mr Tunnicliffe had not repayed money he owed for a round of drinks.

Mr Teate said: “He said he had been drinking, but he knew what he was doing and he lost his temper. It was a bad decision, probably the worst he will ever make. He is devastated as to the consequences of this.”

Sentencing Brant, of Ormesby Road, in Hartlepool, the Recorder of York Judge Stephen Ashurst said: “Whether he didn’t stand his round is neither here nor there.

“Martin Tunnicliffe was left with facial injuries that were painful and caused problems in his relationship with his girlfriend’s children. There is no alternative but to send you to prison.”