A BUNGLING robber who stole a priest's car after threatening the pensioner has been jailed for three years after admitting the "red mist" came down when he called at a presbytery.

James Lambert pushed and shoved the 72-year-old priest out of way before demanding the keys to his car.

But his attempted escape did not go according to plan after he crashed the car into fencing surrounding the house.

Lambert, of Broadway West, Dormanstown, Redcar, east Cleveland, pleaded guilty to robbery and aggravated vehicle taking at Teesside Crown Court.

Andrea Pitt, prosecuting, said Roman Catholic priest Canon William Madden had been left traumatised by the robbery.

She said alcoholic Lambert had called at the presbytery for help, but said a red mist had descended and he became aggressive.

"The priest only gave over the money and the keys because he was scared of the threat of violence and thought the man would become more aggressive," she said.

"He is still upset and found it frightening. He had never experienced anything like it before or wishes to do so again."

David Lamb, in mitigation, said Lambert's initial intention was to ask for help, but he was excessively drunk and that led to him doing what he did.

Mr Lamb added: "He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity as he wished to put to bed at the earliest opportunity any anxiety, his victim might have of facing his attacker in court."

Sentencing Lambert to three years for robbery and nine months to run concurrently for aggravated vehicle taking, Judge Tony Briggs branded him a disgrace.

He said: "You threatened him with violence and you robbed him and that is quite disgraceful. It has to be made clear to people who attack others who serve the community that they deserve to be protected and they will face a significant sentence."

Lambert had also pleaded guilty to driving without insurance and with excess alcohol. He had 66 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, when the legal limit is 35.

He was banned from driving for three years for the motoring offences.

In February, Lambert was given an 18-month community order by Teesside magistrates for possessing an offensive weapon, and in 2001 he had a conviction for affray, the court was told.