STREET robber John Whaley has been jailed for four years and four months after luring a man to a secluded area and shoving a screwdriver against his neck before demanding money.
He targeted the victim after first approaching him and asking him for cash to buy a drink, a court heard.
Whaley, 28, of Cabourne Road, Grimsby, admitted robbing Daniel Turner of £4.10 on June 16.
He had originally been due to face trial at Grimsby Crown Court but later changed his plea.
After the hearing, the police welcomed the lengthy sentence imposed on Whaley.
Officer in the case Detective Constable Lorraine Mackie said that Whaley targeted Mr Turner while he was going to buy a newspaper in Grimsby at about 5am.
Whaley started talking to him in Victoria Street and asked him for 50p to buy a drink.
Mr Turner gave him 50p but, later, when nobody was about, Whaley got off his bicycle and held a screwdriver to Mr Turner's neck in a secluded area near the Tesco supermarket.
Mr Turner at first thought it was a knife, said Det Con Mackie.
Whaley demanded money but Mr Turner told him he did not really have any. Whaley eventually pocketed £4.10.
He later admitted he was an amphetamine user.
Det Con Mackie said: "I am happy with the result of the case. It shows that offences of robbery are taken very seriously.
"He has preyed on someone in a secluded area.
"It was a very frightening experience for the victim. He was lured there under false pretences."
Whaley had a previous violence-related conviction in which he assaulted someone with an iron bar, said Det Con Mackie. Another offence of attempting to rob George Pillai of money on June 24, which he denied, was left on file.
