A mugger has been jailed after robbing a Big Issue seller for £1 and spraying oven cleaner into a woman's face.

Aaron Dawes, 22, of Milner Flats, Brighton, carried out a string of bullying and loutish attacks in Brighton and Hove.

He robbed one Big Issue seller of £20 after threatening to stab him and threatened to kill another if he did not hand over just £1.

The father-of-one also admitted robbing another man of £5 as he stood chatting to friends.

Dawes admitted two robberies, two attempted robberies, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and a further charge of possession of heroin with a street value of £10 when he appeared at Lewes Crown Court yesterday.

The court heard Dawes had previous convictions for theft, assault and robbery.

Julian Dale, for Dawes, said: "These are nasty offences, mean minded offences in which Aaron Dawes has thrown his weight around."

Jailing him for a total of two-and-a-half years, Judge Guy Anthony said: "It is inevitable, as has been recognised on your behalf, that for these serious offences only a custodial sentence and one of some length can be appropriate."