An aggressive beggar who persistently pestered people in Harlesden has been jailed for trying to rob a passerby.

Leon Fearon approached his 33-year-old victim outside newsagents in Station Road, and demanded the loose change he was holding in his hand.

When the man refused Fearon grabbed his arm but he managed to push him and ran on to his workplace.

Later that day he saw Fearon terrorising other people in Harlesden and called the police who arrested him at the scene.

The 40-year-old, of no fixed address, was charged and earlier this month he admitted attempted robbery and was jailed for a year.

Detective Sergeant Chris Gadd, from Brent Police, said: “I hope this sentence serves as a reassurance to the public that the police and courts will do everything in their power to bring offenders to justice.”