A MAN ahs been jailed and handed a 15 month sentence after he threatened a stranger and attempted to rob him with a piece of wood.

Officers were called to an address in Trinity Road, Halstead on February 25 earlier in the year after reports of an attempted robbery.

The victim, a man, was driving home when he saw a man he didn’t recognise standing at the bottom of his driveway holding a piece of wood.

As he got closer, the victim wound his window down a little and asked him what he wanted.

The man - who was later identified as Aaron Rowe, 24 – asked if he knew a man called Jack, to which the victim responded no.

He then threatened to smash the victim’s window if he didn’t hand over £20.

The driver told him if he didn’t leave he would call police, but Rowe then swung the piece of wood at a car parked on the driveway and threatened to hit him.

The victim rang Essex Police and drove off to get away from Rowe, who chased him and hit the van’s bonnet with the wood two times.

Police say they arrived soon after and arrested Rowe.

Rowe was charged with attempted robbery, attempting to cause criminal damage and criminal damage for the incident on February 25.

The 24-year-old, of Magdalen Street, Colchester, admitted the offences at Chelmsford Crown Court on October 8 and was jailed for 15 months.

During the court proceedings, police say the court heard Rowe was under the influence.

DC Kevin Flinn, of Braintree CID, said: “The court heard Rowe was under the influence of drink or drugs at the time and could not remember what happened.

“Fortunately the victim was unhurt but it left him fearful of a similar incident happening again."