A MAN who robbed a pensioner of £4 on Christmas eve last year has been jailed for three years.

The victim, a 76-year-old man, was walking home after a Christmas drink with friends at about 7.30pm.

He was walking through an underpass between Latton Common Road and Church Road, Harlow, where he was approached by Jason Blackham, 26.

Blackham demanded money and punched the victim when he refused to hand any over, causing him to fall to the ground.

When the man managed to get to his feet, he was hit a number of times, causing him to fall over again.

He handed over the £4 change he had in his pocket and Blackham left the scene.

The victim walked to a local shop where an off duty police community support officer saw him and called police and the ambulance service.

He suffered several cuts, grazes and bruises to his head and was treated in hospital.

Blackham, who is unemployed and of no fixed abode, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Monday February 16 and pleaded guilty to robbery.

He was sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court yesterday, Thursday February 25.

Speaking after the hearing, investigating officer Dc Leo Fordham, of Harlow CID, said: “This was a nasty attack on an elderly man on Christmas eve, all for the sake of a few pounds.”