Two thugs who choked a man unconscious to steal his Rolex watch have been jailed.

Neil Blackwell, 27, of London Road, Greenhithe, and Kevin Ripley, 32, who has links to the area, each pleaded guilty to robbery at Woolwich Crown Court.

Blackwell was jailed for five years and eight months. Ripley was jailed for four years and six months.

Scroll down for video

The 46-year-old victim was working on February 10 at a hire shop in Court Road, Greenwich.

The two defendants entered the shop at 1.39pm and, to steal the victim’s £15,000 Rolex watch, one of them put his arm around the victim’s throat and began to choke him.

He dragged the victim to the floor, as the other man took the watch from his wrist. Both men made off leaving the victim unconscious.

Although shaken by the assault, the victim suffered no permanent injury.

CCTV of the attack was recovered and released in an urgent appeal to find the attackers.

It was as a direct result of the media appeal that information was gathered from the public, leading police to identify and arrest the two suspects.

Blackwell was arrested on February 19 at his Greenhithe home. On February 21, Ripley was arrested in Gravesend.

DC Andrew Payne said: “It was with your help that two dangerous criminals were arrested.”