A MAN has been jailed after a mugging in Weymouth.

Joshua Penketh, pictured right, aged 25, pushed a man against a wall and stole cash, tobacco, an iPhone and a pair of headphones, Dorchester Crown Court was told.

He admitted a charge of robbery.

Prosecuting, Carolyn Branford-Wood said the offence took place in Turton Street in November last year.

She said: “The victim was walking along King Street when he met two males he knew by name.

They chatted and continued on to Turton Street where Penketh made a remark and forced his forearm against the throat of the victim, pushing him against the wall.”

Penketh was ‘aggressive’, she added, and demanded the victim hand over his wallet.

The victim later called the police and Penketh, along with another man who was later released without charge, were arrested on the Esplanade.

In mitigation Nigel Mitchell said the offence was ‘unplanned and opportunistic’ and that the defendant later showed remorse for his actions.

He added: “He is trying to improve his lifestyle and has been avoiding those things that might bring him back before the courts.

“Substance misuse has been a problem for him.

“He accepts full responsibility for what he has done and is sorry for the distress caused and that he offended against someone who perceived him as a friend.”

Although he has 16 convictions for 25 offences, the defendant has never been imprisoned before, Mr Mitchell added.

Judge Roger Jarvis sentenced Penketh, of St John’s Close, Portland, to 10 months in jail.

He said: “This was an unpleasant offence committed in November when it was dark, the mugging victim being someone who thought you were his friend and was understandably shocked at the violence you showed to him.

“You took items from him against his will. You have had chance after chance, in truth.

“On this occasion you were affected by drink and drugs and this is something which happened on earlier occasions when you have committed crime.

“Previous court orders have had no lasting impact on your behaviour.”

He added: “The time has come when you have to understand what happens when you commit crimes in the way you have been.”