A teenage street mugger has been jailed for 27 months after he targeted University of York students in drink-fuelled attacks.

Luke Stratton was nearly glassed with a beer bottle and had his face punched before he could escape from Daniel John Kelly, 18, and an accomplice, said Simon Perkins, prosecuting at York Crown Court.

A month later, four men including Kelly, confronted Christopher Goodyear, who was grabbed from behind and punched before he managed to flee into The Late Store, in Fourth Avenue, Tang Hall. Both victims study at the University of York.

Kelly, of Fifth Avenue, Tang Hall, pleaded guilty to two assaults with intent to rob and was jailed for 27 months.

Recorder Geoffrey Marson QC said the attack on Mr Stratton had been a "terrifying incident".

Kelly's barrister, Taryn Turner, said at the time of the muggings, he had been under the influence of alcohol. His life had been in "something of an uproar" and he had been estranged from his mother.

Mr Perkins said part-time bar employee Mr Stratton was walking down Hadrian Avenue, Tang Hall, at 6pm on May 21, when Kelly and another man approached him carrying bottles.

Kelly told him: "I am going to bottle you if you don't give me your wallet," and when the student tried to walk off, the second man emptied his bottle and unsuccessfully tried to hit him.

"He's tried to bottle you, now give me your phone and wallet," Kelly told Mr Stratton. The student denied having either and Kelly punched him on the face. Mr Stratton fled. He later saw Kelly at The Magnet pub in Osbaldwick, where he worked, and alerted police.

Mr Perkins said that at 4.50pm on June 22, student and shop worker Mr Goodyear was on his way to work with some of his employer's DVDs when four men, including Kelly, surrounded him and demanded the DVDs.

When he refused, he was attacked from behind, but he managed to escape to the nearby general store. The next day in Fourth Avenue, he spotted Kelly and called police.

Mrs Turner said Kelly had not drunk since he was charged and was remorseful.

Updated: 10:32 Tuesday, November 09, 2004