A man has been jailed for more than three years after he stole a car and kicked the victim in the face in Stoke-on-Trent.

James Douglas Whitehouse, of no fixed address, was sentenced to three-years-and-six-months in jail at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Tuesday (10 February) after he pleaded guilty to robbery.

Staffordshire Police explained that on 10 February last year, Whitehouse, 29, approached someone sitting in a parked car on Old Town Road, Hanley. 

Whitehouse put his hands through a gap in the driver's window and demanded the man inside hand over his phone.

When the victim got out of the car, Whitehouse kicked him in the face, causing minor injuries.

Whitehouse then got in the car and drove away.

The car was found abandoned in the Meir area the next day (11 February 2025).

Following an investigation, Whitehouse was arrested.

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Detective Constable Craig Bailey-Rigby, of CID north, said: "Whitehouse showed no regard for the victim or his car, which he stole in an opportunistic attack.

"Whitehouse was arrested only two days after the robbery after we worked hard to gather forensic evidence against him. 

"We remain committed to protecting victims of robbery in Stoke-on-Trent and across wider Staffordshire."

A spokesperson for Staffordshire Police said: "When he was interviewed in custody, Whitehouse denied knowing anything about a robbery taking place but officers worked tirelessly to gather evidence, which eventually led to him admitting the offence in court.