Ananova:

An Indian judge has sentenced a robber to life imprisonment for hurling a slipper at him.

Judge C D Gongale managed to duck in time when Rajkumar Sharma threw his slipper at him, reports The Times of India.

The 19-year-old appeared before the judge in Mumbai after he was accused of robbing an auto rickshaw driver of £5.20.

Senior lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani said: "The punishment is excessive but the accused's conduct is unpardonable."

Using footwear as missiles is not new to courts in Mumbai and there have been several incidents where disgruntled convicts have flung their slippers at judges.

The paper said suspects are now produced without their shoes in some courts to avoid such incidents.