A teenager who repeatedly punched a woman car driver in the face while trying to steal her phone has been jailed for 18 months.

Marcus Roach, 19, tried to grab the mobile after the woman pulled her car over to take a call in Moffat Road, South Norwood.

He and another man wrenched open the driver’s side door before demanding she hand over the phone.

When she refused, Roach launched a furious attack and tried to pull the screaming woman from her car.

Her screams alerted a passing police car, and officers managed to arrest Roach as he tried to run from the scene.

He was charged with attempted robbery on February 26, and remanded in custody to appear at Croydon Magistrates’ Court.

Roach pleaded guilty and was sentenced at Croydon Crown Court on June 3. Detective Constable Andy Pike said: “This sickening attack has left the victim extremely traumatized.

“Roach thought nothing of physically attacking a lone female all for a mobile phone. I hope that this sentence is of some comfort to the victim.”