A MUGGER who stole a watch from football boss George Reynolds is starting a five-year prison sentence today.

Tayo Aladesuyi, 23, wrenched the £41,000 Rolex off the multi-millionaire's wrist and tried to prise a diamond ring from his finger during the mugging.

He only fled when Mr Reynold's 80-year-old mother-in-law waded in and a passing binman chased the crook off with a wooden pole.

The Darlington FC chairman, 64, was left with back injuries following the robbery, which happened in north London, earlier this year.

Speaking after the sentencing, Mr Reynolds said that the mugger had got what he deserved.

Mr Reynolds said the fact that Aladesuyi was now behind bars meant that the streets of London were now much safer.

He described the muggers as a ruthless gang who had previously picked on frail, elderly women, but said: "They met their Waterloo when they singled me out.

"If, when he gets out, Aladesuyi tries to mug me again I'll take his watch instead. It was a beauty."

Aladesuyi - known to gangmates as Killer - was caught by police later that night, after a high-speed car chase.

They found the gold Rolex hidden at his home the following day.

Passing sentence the judge, Recorder Stephen Dawson, told Aladesuyi: "This offence was planned by you and your gang. There was some planning and looking for victims. You illegally obtained a car for this offence and had it altered and ready for your getaway.

"You laid in wait to chose your moment, and you had to be alert for that moment. You must have known that this kind of violent theft could cause injuries.

"The public must feel safe on the streets of London when they go for a meal, like this couple did, and at this moment you remain a threat to their (the public) security."

Aladesuyi, of Linstead Street, West Hampstead, was sentenced to five years in prison for robbing Mr Reynolds, with four years concurrent for attempting to steal from Mrs Reynolds.

The 64-year-old former safe-cracker, who took over as chairman of Darlington FC in May 1999, served a four-year sentence himself in the 1960s, before going straight and amassing a rumoured £235m fortune