JAILED: Two 'dangerous' Kent criminals who choked man unconscious for £15k Rolex in Mottingham

Neil Blackwell, 27, of London Road in Greenhithe, and Kevin Ripley, 32, who has no fixed address but connections to Gravesend, both pleaded guilty to robbery at Woolwich Crown Court yesterday (March 21).

Blackwell was jailed for five years and eight months, and Ripley for four years and six months, in connection with the violent attack.

The court heard how at 1.40pm on February 10, the 46-year-old victim was working at a hire shop in Court Road.

Ripley and Blackwell entered the shop and, in order to steal the victim's expensive watch, one of them put his arm around the man's throat and began to choke him.

Ripley and Blackwell choked a man unconscious to steal his watch

Whilst the attacked dragged him to the floor, the other man stole the watch from his wrist. Both men fled, leaving the victim lying unconscious on the floor.

Thankfully the victim suffered no permanent injury as a result of the attack, but he was left "highly distressed".

Blackwell was arrested by officers from the Met at his Greenhithe home on February 19, following a successful CCTV appeal and information from the public.

Blackwell (left) and Ripley (right) both pleaded guilty to their crimes

Two days later, Ripley was also arrested, in Gravesend, by officers from Kent Police.

Both men were subsequently charged and remanded in custody.

Detective Constable Andrew Payne of Greenwich CID said. "I must firstly thank all those who supported our appeal.

“Both these men were quickly arrested as a direct result of the public and media - it was with your help that two dangerous criminals were arrested.

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"As for Ripley and Blackwell, the violence and viciousness of this robbery is apparent to anyone who watches the CCTV.

“These two men were reckless in their use of force and it was mere good fortune that the victim was not seriously injured.

“I am sure the public will be relieved to see them brought to justice."