A teacher is to be jailed after being convicted of punching a man to the ground and stealing his keys, wallet and mobile phone.

Simon Evans, a former PE teacher at George Salter Collegiate Academy in West Bromwich, committed the robbery when he went to Birmingham city centre to buy cannabis. He has also been convicted of driving while disqualified.

Hearing his case at Birmingham Crown Court last week, Judge Elizabeth Fisher told Mr Evans: “As you will now understand, it is inevitable you will receive a custodial sentence.”

The judge adjourned sentencing until September 3 so that a report could be prepared on Mr Evans, who was remanded on conditional bail.

Michael Aspinall, prosecuting, said the victim, Andrew Todd, an engineer, had been out drinking with friends in the city centre on August 14 last year.

After leaving Snobs nightclub in the early hours he was approached by Mr Evans, who punched him to the ground and rifled through his pockets.

The victim was unable to identify his attacker, but police linked Mr Evans to the attack through CCTV footage.

When questioned, he claimed he had been with his girlfriend on the evening and that he had not gone out.

In court, Mr Evans admitted lying to the police but denied carrying out the robbery. He said he had gone out after 1am to buy some cannabis and that he had lied because he was worried that his school would find out about the drugs.

George Salter Collegiate Academy was unavailable for comment.