AN ALCOHOLIC who pinned a pensioner to a wall and claimed he was an undercover policeman was yesterday jailed for attempted robbery.

Gerrard Ryan approached 78-year-old Leslie Marsh as he got off a bus in Kidlington before grabbing him and pinning him against a wall as another man watched on and laughed.

After rifling through his victim’s pockets, the 45-year-old attacker pulled out a bus pass and claimed it was a police warrant card and that he was an undercover officer.

Mr Marsh was able to make his escape as Ryan and his accomplice fled.

The incident took place on June 17, 2009, but Ryan, who has previous convictions for low-level violence and dishonesty, failed to turn up to a plea hearing and had been on the run until last month.

He subsequently admitted breaching bail and attempted robbery and was sentenced at Oxford Crown Court.

Terence Woods, defending, said his client, of Faringdon Road, Swindon, had battled “a very, very long-standing and chronic drink problem”.

He added: “He regrets very much his involvement in this offence and wishes to move on and wishes yet again to solve his difficulties with alcohol.”

Recorder Rabinder Singh jailed him for a total of 17 months.