A cameraman who worked on the original Brighton Rock has seen a thief who mugged him for just £5 go to jail.

Robber Solomon Bygraves conned his victim Stanley Evans, pictured right, a retired camera assistant, by pretending he was going to help him with his wheelie bag as he returned from a shopping trip.

But once in the block of flats he lunged for the pensioner's wallet, knocking him to the ground.

In CCTV footage played at London's Southwark Crown Court, Bygraves was seen running off as Mr Evans falls to the floor. He remained lying in the entrance to the flats in Soho, central London, for ten minutes after the attack on January 31 before managing to get to his feet to call 999.

Bygraves, who has 21 convictions for 49 different offences including two for robbery, smirked during parts of the sentence.

The judge, Recorder Andrew Mitchell QC, said the attack on the frail and small Mr Evans, now 93, could have been fatal.

Mr Evans’ shoulder and arm were hurt in the attack. He said he was still suffering now.

The 29-year-old, who is homeless and at least 6ft tall, initially denied the crime but later wrote a letter of remorse and was sent to jail for 30 months.