TWO thieves who robbed a man of his £20 mobile phone as he returned home have been jailed for a total of six years.

Steven James, 24, and Daniel Fry, 25, attacked Daniel Whalley in Newport on January 4, a court heard.

Mr Whalley passed out after Fry punched the 27-year-old and James choked him, Cardiff Crown Court heard.

James had been given a suspended jailed sentence in 2011 for a wounding offence against his father, which had also involved choking, prosecutor Ian Kolvin told the court.

Judge Neil Bidder, QC, handed James a four-year prison term while Fry was given a two-year sentence.

He told James: “You present a high risk of re-offending and a high risk to the public.” Mr Whalley came round not knowing how long he had been unconscious, Mr Kolvin told the court.

The pair had taken his keys, tobacco pouch and £20 Nokia phone, the prosecutor added.

Mr Whalley later picked out both defendants in an ID parade, the court heard.

James, of Hawthorne Avenue, Newport, and Fry, of Somerton Park, Newport, both pleaded guilty to the evening robbery in Somerton.

Fry had committed offences,including the possession of class A and class B drugs, but had none for violence, court records showed.

David Webster, mitigating for Fry, said that his client had gone out to celebrate on the day of the offence because his partner was pregnant and he had drunk too much alcohol.

Mr Webster added that the offence was “out of character” and he was remorseful for his actions.

Ben Waters, mitigating for James, said that his client had shown “a substantial amount of remorse” towards the victim and stressed the robbery had not been premeditated or planned.

Judge Bidder said the pair would have to serve half their sentences in custody before being released and ordered them to pay a £120 victim surcharge each.