A mild-mannered man intimidated a thief into returning his mobile phone - by roaring at him.

City worker Russell Clarke was enjoying a morning coffee in Daisy's in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, with his wife and eight-month-old baby last week when the thief struck.

First, he approached their table asking for directions.

Mr Clarke, 33, said: "He didn't speak much English and confused us with a map. It was a distraction tactic. Then he made a commotion with a can of coke and left.

"Everyone thought, what was all that about?

"Then about a minute later my wife said, Where's my phone?'"

Realising it had been taken, Mr Clarke ran into the street and saw the man jogging towards Forest Road.

He chased after him and, to his surprise, caught up with him.

He said: "I ran about 300 metres and thought my heart was going to fall out of my chest. He was about ten metres away and I did an almighty deep bellowing roar.

"He panicked, threw down the map and phone and ran off."

Mr Clarke, who is 5ft 7ins tall, told the Guardian he had never roared at an assailant before, and added: "It's not my habit. He was bigger than me.

"But it's bad form to steal people's phones."

On his return to the cafe, Mr Clarke was greeted by a round of applause from Daisy's customers and staff.