A Shropshire man has been jailed for two years for his part in a robbery which saw a man punched and pushed into woodland before having his mobile phone and bank card taken.

Anthony Ogembo, 24, of Burnside, Brookside, Telford, admitted robbing Andrew James. Shrewsbury Crown Court heard yesterday that he had been involved in the offence along with two other men.

The court was told Mr James had left work in Stafford Park, Telford, at about 8pm on July 9 and had been on his way to a bus stop when he was approached by the men.

Mr Stephen Bacon, prosecuting, said one of them, not Ogembo, had punched the victim in the face. Mr James was then pushed into some trees and punched several times.

Mr Bacon added: “They pushed him into the trees shouting that they wanted his money.”

The court heard Mr James had been pinned down and forced to hand over £3.50.

Mr Bacon said Mr James had said it was all he had and was threatened he would be stabbed if he was lying.

In his statement, Mr James said he had needed to have a plate fitted for a broken jaw. Mr Bacon said he had seen no medical evidence for this, but if it had been the case it would have been a significant injury.

Mr Mark Sharman, for Ogembo, said he had not started the attack or threatened to stab Mr James.

The court heard Ogembo had been drinking with the others before the incident.

Mr Sharman said: “He made full admissions to the police. He accepts full responsibility and the remorse he expresses is entirely genuine and sincere. He alone stands in the dock, despite having been arrested at the home of one of the others said to be responsible.”

The court heard the chances of anyone else being brought to court were slim.

Sentencing, Judge Robin Onions, said: “I recognise this is a difficult day for you and your family and I take the view that this was out of character, this was a moment of madness for which you are going to pay a very high price.”

In total, Mr James lost property valued at £431.