A HOMELESS man who robbed a stranger of his belongings after grabbing him by the collar has been jailed.

Jamie Dyas, 26, of Broadway, Pontypool, was sentenced at Newport Crown Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the robbery in Two Locks, Cwmbran.

Nik Strobl, prosecuting, said the victim - American citizen, Thomas Pannone, who was living with his fiancee in Cwmbran - was walking home alone at around 9.55pm on Sunday, August 27 last year when he noticed Dyas standing stationary around 50 feet away.

As Mr Pannone got closer to Dyas, the defendant began asking him questions such as his name, where he was from and where he was staying, the court heard.

"The victim answered these questions," said Mr Strobl.

"As the questioning continued the victim became more hesitant and at this point the defendant became more aggressive."

Dyas then grabbed the 24-year-old victim by his t-shirt collar and demanded his belongings.

A woman who was in the area shouted at Dyas to stop and leave the victim alone, the court heard.

Mr Strobl said Dyas let go of the t-shirt after five to 10 seconds, before then reaching into Mr Pannone's jeans pocket and taking his mobile phone and his wallet which contained £40 in cash, a credit card, driving licence and photo of his fiancee.

During the robbery Dyas told his victim: "Do what I tell you if you don't want to get hurt."

Mr Pannone also gave Dyas his house keys when he was told to hand over "everything else," the court heard.

Afterwards, Dyas told his victim to run up the road.

Mr Pannone was later caught up by the unknown woman who returned his keys and told him the name of the defendant, advising him to call the police.

But as they walked they were again met by Dyas who asked for the code to unlock Mr Pannone's phone.

The whole incident lasted between five and 10 minutes.

In a victim impact statement read out in court, Mr Pannone said he was shaken by the robbery and believed the threat of violence was real.

Stephen Thomas, defending, said Dyas wished to apologise to his victim and was sorry for his actions.

He said Dyas - who has 23 previous convictions for 49 offences including another robbery - was homeless at the time and in a "desperate situation."

"He was hungry and desperate for food," said Mr Thomas.

The credit card stolen was used in Yummy's to buy food, the court heard.

Mr Thomas also pointed out no violence was used, nor any injuries caused, and that the robbery was unplanned.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, sentencing, said Mr Pannone was "very frightened and could not believe what was happening to him."

Dyas was jailed for 27 months.