A ROBBER who punched a 70-year-old man to the ground and stole his wallet so he could buy alcohol has been jailed for four years and nine months.

Steven Milner, of Eastfield, Scarborough, was arrested within 40 minutes of the attack, which happened in broad daylight in Westwood in the seaside town last month.

Police said after assaulting the victim, Milner ripped the wallet from his jacket, using so much force that he walked off with the wallet and torn jacket in his hand. The victim was left very shaken as Milner fled and used his bank card to buy alcohol.

Local officers recognised Milner from a description and located and arrested him less than 40 minutes after the incident. They worked with detectives at Scarborough CID to piece together damning CCTV evidence that linked Milner to the offences.

Milner denied everything in police interview, claiming a fictitious man handed him the victim’s property minutes after the robbery.

But Milner, 51, pleaded guilty to robbery and fraud and was jailed by a judge at York Crown Court last week.

After the sentencing, Detective Constable Nick Burton, of Scarborough CID, said: “This was a vicious but cowardly robbery which would have been extremely distressing for the victim.

“But swift police work and a detailed investigation that linked Milner to the crime helped take another robber off our streets. Our communities are safer as a result.”