A man was robbed of jewellery worth £3,000 after going into a toilet cubicle in a Worcester pub.

Robert Birtley, formerly from Woodwards Park, Fladbury, burst in and rained a flurry of blows on victim Matthew Jenkins.

He grabbed a bracelet, necklace and four rings before leaving RSVP in The Cross and getting a taxi which was stopped by police.

Birtley, aged 33, was jailed for four years at Worcester Crown Court last Thursday. He admitted robbery.

Prosecutor Tariq Shakoor said Mr Jenkins went into the toilet around 11.40pm on October 26.

Birtley subjected him to 20 blows and ordered him to take his rings and necklace off. The bracelet fell off during the struggle.

The robber fled over a gate into Bushwhackers pub, then smashed a window to get into an office building, before emerging the other side into Trinity Street.

He left his coat in a doorway to try and avoid being recognised, said Mr Shakoor. But police caught up with him in the cab and found the stolen goods in his pocket.

Police recovered £547 cash at Birtley's bed and breakfast accommodation, along with three screwdrivers and a craft knife.

Birtley had previous convictions for burglary, drug possession and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Jenkins needed three stitches in a cut to his left eye and suffered bruising to his cheek and shoulder. The robbery had left him scared and vulnerable. Tim Sapwell, defending, said Birtley's life had been turned upside down by drugs.

Judge Michael Mott said the robbery was committed in circumstances of personal indignity for the victim, who was helpless to resist.