A MAN has been jailed after carrying out two unprovoked attacks.

Alex Gilbertson, 42, unemployed, of no fixed address, was sentenced to a total of 24 weeks’ imprisonment and ordered to pay £75 compensation to each of his victims.

It comes after two separate attacks in Worthing.

About 2.40pm on Sunday 13 October, a local man parked his van in Clifton Road when he was approached by an unknown man, who leaned on his vehicle.

After asking him politely not to touch it, the victim was punched to the ribs. Police were called and the suspect made off on a bicycle.

Later, around 5.35pm, the same suspect entered Co-Op in Ham Road, and stole milk and chicken wings valued at £5.30.

A member of staff confronted the man, who responded by head-butting him. Again, he made off from the scene on his bike.

Officers carried out a search of the area and the suspect was located in nearby Chesswood Road.

He was detained with the help of a quick-thinking member of the public, who spotted he was being pursued and kicked his bike, causing him to fall to the ground.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Crawley Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 15 October, where he pleaded guilty to theft and two counts of assault by beating.

Magistrates said the deliberate attacks, and his flagrant disregard for people and their property, were taken into account on sentencing.