Watford man Neil Williams was jailed for 27 months today after a truck driver caught him stealing his mobile phone.

Williams, who has drink and drug problems, snatched the black iPhone 5 from Kevin Murray's Grab Truck while he signed on at a building site in Princes Road, Watford.

St Albans Crown Court was told Mr Murray returned to the truck and, when he saw Williams inside, ordered him out.

Prosecutor Alison Ginn said Williams, who smelt of alcohol, walked off.

When Mr Murray realised his phone was missing, he went after him and saw him throw it onto the ground.

Mr Murray held Williams on the ground. Williams, 47, asked him not to call the police, instead suggesting the driver take him down an alleyway and "give him a slap," said the prosecutor.

The police were called. Williams complained that his back was hurting and, when he was allowed to stand, tried to run off. He was stopped again by Mr Murray, who held him until the police arrived.

After he was arrested and handcuffed, he lashed out at Mr Murray, kicking his leg.

Williams, of Whippendell Road, Watford, had been convicted at an earlier hearing in his absence of theft from a motor vehicle and assault by beating, which were committed on 2 November last year.

He appeared on a video link from Peterborough jail to be sentenced for those two offences as well as failing to surrender to custody.

The judge was told Williams was in breach of a suspended sentence imposed by St Albans crown court in March 2015. He had stolen two Jacob Epstein sculptures from Watford Museum.

Darryl Cherrett, defending, said that, other than the theft of the sculptures, Williams' past offending had been relatively minor.

He said: "He had a consistent problem with drink and drugs and has been an alcoholic for a long time. He suffers from throat cancer and has not looked after himself. He had been missing hospital appointments.

"He is in a sorry state and is remorseful," said Mr Cherrett.

Recorder Harold Persaud sentenced him to nine months in total for the assault, theft and failing to surrender with a further 18 months for breaching the suspended sentence.

He told him: "No information has been put before me to suggest it would be unjust other than to bring the suspended sentence into effect. Very little can be said on your behalf."