A man who fled to Israel after committing a violent robbery has been jailed after he was extradited back to Britain.

Adam Rubinstein skipped bail in 2010 after attacking a couple in their car. He travelled to Israel via Latvia and was eventually tracked down by Interpol.

The 29-year-old, formerly of Bushey, Hertfordshire, was sent back to Britain by a judge in Jerusalem.

At Harrow Crown Court on Friday he admitted two charges of robbery and was jailed for two years and eight months.

The initial attack took place in Stanmore, Hertfordshire, in June 2010. Rubinstein robbed a man and woman as they sat in their car outside a supermarket in the early hours of the morning.

He punched the 21-year-old man, causing serious facial injuries, and took a wallet, handbag and mobile phones before escaping in a car with two other people.

The following day the items were handed in to police and Rubinstein was later identified and arrested on suspicion of robbery, attempted fraud and grievous bodily harm.

After initially admitting the crimes and telling officers what he had done, he was bailed. Police later discovered that he had flown to Riga on August 1 and never returned to Britain.

An Interpol investigation showed Rubinstein had travelled to Israel, where he had family and claimed to have earlier served in the Israel Defence Force.

He was arrested and jailed by Israeli officials while further investigations continued. After six months under house arrest a Jerusalem judge declared that he could be extradited as he had not been an Israeli citizen at the time of the Stanmore robbery.

Police Constable Francis Shepherd of Harrow Police said: “After four frustrating years of hard work it is very satisfying that justice can be seen to be done.

“Both of his victims are incredibly pleased and grateful. If we had not instigated this long drawn out process of extradition, he would never have voluntarily returned."