A DRUNKARD who threatened a heavily pregnant woman with his clenched fist in a robbery on the canal towpath at Shipley has been jailed for 34 months.

David Pemberton was led weeping to the cells after Bradford Crown Court heard he told Anna Salaiski: “Give me your phone or I will kill you.”

Miss Salaiski, who was out for a stroll in broad daylight, screamed at him to give her phone back after he grabbed it and ran off along the towpath near Valley Road on August 7 last year.

She went to a local pub for help, describing how Pemberton smelled of intoxicants when he struck while she was sending a text on her phone.

The police circulated an e-fit of the wanted robber and members of the public identified Pemberton, the court was told.

Miss Salaiski was so distressed she had to take time off work. She believed her baby was born earlier than it would have been because she was so shocked, but the court heard there was was no medical evidence to support that claim.

Pemberton, 29, of Poplar Road, Shipley, who was on bail at the time, made no comment in his police interview.

He pleaded guilty to robbery on the day of his trial.

Pemberton’s solicitor advocate, Tahir Hanif, said: “The defendant is extremely ashamed and embarrassed about his conduct.”

He was taking Class A drugs at the time and had a serious problem with alcohol.

Mr Hanif said Pemberton, the father of two children, was leading a chaotic life but had since made great strides to free himself from his addictions.

He was in regular contact with his support worker and fully engaged with the Piccadilly Project in the city.

Mr Hanif said Pemberton had not touched any alcohol for the past two months.

“He is incredibly distressed about what he has done,” he told the court.

Pemberton had a short criminal record for shoplifting, nothing for violence.

Judge Jonathan Rose told Pemberton he chose to target a heavily pregnant woman.

“You are a coward to attack a pregnant woman and not to have the courage to admit it until the day of your trial,” Judge Rose said.

Pemberton was locked up for 32 months for the robbery, with two months to run consecutively for breaching a community order.