TWO men who robbed a stranger in a drunken and unprovoked late-night attack have been jailed.

David Leah, 19, and Jess Webb, 22, both of Oakfield Road, Carterton, admitted robbing 20-year-old George Alford as he walked home along Upavon Way in the town at 2am on December 14 last year.

The victim was punched to the ground and had his wallet stolen.

Nikki Duncan, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court yesterday: “Mr Alford was walking along having come from a kebab van, listening to his MP3 music player.

“He became aware of two men on the other side of the road.”

She said one of the men – Jess Webb — then approached him wearing a ski mask pulled up to partly obscure his face.

Miss Duncan said the victim then became aware of Leah walking on the other side of the road, talking to Webb. As he walked away he heard the pair running towards him from behind.

She added: “The next thing he knew he was punched between the eyes.

“His glasses broke on impact and he fell to the floor. He believes it was Mr Leah who punched him.”

Miss Duncan said the victim’s wallet and house keys fell out of his pocket and Webb took the wallet, kicked the keys away and asked what else he had on him.

She added: “Since then George Alford has been scared to leave the house after dark and was signed off work for a week.”

Adrian Amer, defending Webb, said his client was drunk, “possibly under the influence of heroin and cocaine” and accepted that he had a drug problem.

He added: “When he’s not had a drink or under the influence of drugs he’s a very charming, engaging individual.

“He’s a bit of a cheeky chappy who tries to get about the world the best he can.”

Graeme Logan, defending Leah, said his client was a promising boxer at the Windrush club in Witney but had “problems dealing with his attitude towards others and alcohol”. He was taking steps to tackle this.

Judge Julian Hall sentenced Webb to two years and three months in prison and Leah to the same period in a young offenders’ institution.

tairs@oxfordmail.co.uk