Two "callous and cowardly" thieves who followed a tourist and barged into him to steal his watch have been jailed for more than two years.

Mohammed Ababsa, 38, of Salisbury Road, Queen's Park, and Achraf Hammouth, 26, of Cricklewood Broadway, Cricklewood, appeared at Southwark Crown Court on Friday (October 13) where they pleaded guilty to robbery.

The court heard that on September 15 a 51-year-old Canadian tourist left a bar in Wardour Street to walk back to his hotel. 

The two suspects approached him from behind in Shaftesbury Avenue and barged into him from both sides.

As they did this, one of them took his watch from his wrist before running away towards Old Compton Street in Soho.

The tourist, a former soldier, called the police as he chased the two men.

After officers searched the surrounding streets, one suspect was arrested in Litchfield Street and the other was detained at Newport Place in Leicester Square.

The watch was not found.

The judge sentenced Ababsa to two years and eight months' jail and Hammouth was sentenced to two years and three months.

They were taken to west London police stations and were charged that same day.

Both were also sentenced to pay a victim surcharge of £228 each.

Det Con Dalila Gomes investigating said: “The Canadian victim was a former soldier, he had travelled the world in his professional career and the watch, that had great sentimental value, had travelled with him.

“The defendants have let down the people of London who value tourism and the contribution it makes to our vibrant city.

"Their callous and cowardly actions toward a visitor to our capital has, quite rightly, cost them their freedom.

“It saddens me that the watch was not recovered – I sincerely hope that the sentences handed down bring the victim some satisfaction.”