A ROBBER has been jailed for three years for a violent drink-fuelled midnight attack on a man walking home through Heworth.

Helen Holmes, prosecuting, told York Crown Court that Michael Holman had just been to York Railway Station to see off a friend.

But as he walked along Monkgate, York, two men from Tang Hall - Gary Precious, 19, and Darren Lee McGreavy, 22 - started following him and outside the Shoulder of Mutton pub they grabbed his rucksack and tried to pull it off him. Precious threw a glass, but did not threaten Mr Holman with it.

Judge Paul Hoffman, the Honorary Recorder of York, said that although he did not threaten or attack the victim with the glass, it must have been intimidating.

Miss Holmes said between them the two robbers repeatedly kicked him, punched him, put him to the ground more than once and finally wrenched the bag off him and ran off. But Mr Holman ran after them, got the bag back and caught Precious in a headlock until McGreavy intervened and the pair fled. Police caught them nearby.

Precious, of Rockingham Avenue, pleaded guilty to robbery and was jailed for three years. McGreavy, of Seventh Avenue, was jailed for three years in May after also admitting robbery.

Precious's barrister, Taryn Turner, said he had had a serious illness caused by drugs he was prescribed for a bad back. They had affected his liver and though he was now improving, he still needed twice weekly blood tests and couldn't take any drugs. He would be "vulnerable" for some time. He did not have a problem with illegal drugs or alcohol.

Miss Holmes said the attack occurred at about 11.30pm on October 28 and was witnessed by people coming out of the pub. The robbers began by asking Mr Holman the time near Heworth Green. He told them and kept on walking, but as he passed the pub, they caught up with him. Mr Holman suffered cuts and bruises to his neck, chin and wrist.

When McGreavy was sentenced, the court heard that the pair told police they had been out drinking and were "a bit loud and a bit blathered".

McGreavy was on bail at the time of the robbery for dealing in Ecstasy at a York nightclub, an offence for which he was given an extra 12 months.

Updated: 10:22 Tuesday, July 12, 2005