A Warwick man will spend the next four years in prison after attacking and stealing from two men in separate incidents last year.

Heman Viera, of Khyber Heights, Warwick, pleaded guilty to stealing, assault causing grievous bodily harm and robbery when he appeared in Supreme Court on Friday.

Viera, 31, attacked Andrew Chappell as he was getting off his bike outside his home on Middle Road in Paget on October 18.

Viera came out from behind a tree, punched Mr. Chappell in the face and kicked him in the head once he had fallen to the ground.

He then stole Mr. Chappell's wallet which had fallen out of his pocket during the assault.

The wallet contained $170 in cash and various credit cards.

The next day Viera flagged down Anjos Furtado who was driving his car along Middle Road in Warwick and asked him for $45 or a ride to Somerset.

When Mr. Furtado said no, Viera tried to reach in the car and grab Mr. Furtado but he drove away.

Viera then followed him up Morgans Road, burst into his apartment and demanded money.

When he saw Mr. Furtado's pants on the couch he went to steal his wallet, but the two men got in a struggle that moved outside to Mr. Furtado's upstairs patio.

During the fight, Viera threw Mr. Furtado over the railing onto the lower roof, bruising his left side.

At that point a relative of Mr. Furtado who lived in the apartment below heard the noise and called the Police but Viera escaped with $310 before officers arrived.

He was arrested by Police the next day.

Viera pleaded guilty to all three charges and a psychological report was requested.

Chief Justice Austin Ward heard prison psychologist Dr. Christopher Snyder's report that stated that Viera suffered from poor impulse control, impaired empathy and below/average intelligence.

Lawyer Mark Pettingill, representing Veira, argued that a severe head injury Viera received in 1982 contributed to his irrational behaviour.

Mr. Pettingill asked Mr. Ward to consider putting Viera in "a maintenance programme which would involve active counselling.'' He said: "Incarceration will not keep him out of trouble at a later date.'' When asked if he had anything to say before his sentence, Viera told the court: "I'm sorry for what has happened. I know I need help with my situation. I'm asking for you to help.'' Mr. Ward sentenced Viera to two years in prison for stealing, 18 months for assault causing grievous bodily harm and four years for robbery.

All sentences run concurrently.

And Mr. Ward made it mandatory that Viera participate in the sexual offenders programme and receive treatment for his psychological and alcohol related disorder.

Mr. Ward said: "You have a chance to be made right.''