A MAN who threatened and robbed two teenage students while armed with a hypodermic needle has been jailed.

Joseph Byrne Bailey, of no fixed abode, targeted the students before subjecting them to a “very frightening ordeal”.

A court heard that the defendant went to Bournemouth Gardens in the early hours of Friday, August 19 last year.

When he arrived at around 2.50am, he met up with another man.

Bailey then put on a balaclava, while his accomplice pulled the hood of his top tightly around his face.

The pair then approached the students, a 17-year-old girl from Italy and a 19-year-old man from Saudi Arabia.

The victims were sat on the ground by a kiosk opposite the mini golf in the Lower Gardens.

Bailey, 36, pointed a hypodermic needle at the students and demanded money from them.

The male victim said he did not have any money so the unknown man snatched his mobile phone.

At the same time, Bailey snatched a handbag from the teenage girl.

It contained her purse and house keys.

Bailey then punched the man in the face before he and his accomplice ran off past the Pavilion toward Westover Road.

He was arrested at 8.40pm the same day.

After being quizzed by detectives, he was released on bail, but then failed to return to the police station on an appointed date.

A warrant was issued and he was arrested on Tuesday, January 17 this year, and charged the same day.

A 32-year-old man from New Milton was also arrested in connection with the incident but was subsequently released without charge.

The defendant appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court in February. where he admitted two counts of robbery.

Last Friday, March 17, he appeared at the same court to be sentenced for both counts, as well as two shoplifting crimes and two counts of possessing class A drugs.

He was handed a three-year prison sentence.

Dorset Police’s Detective Constable Neil Jones, of Bournemouth CID, said Bailey targeted his victims for cash and subjected them to a “very frightening ordeal”.

“Dorset Police has a zero tolerance for anyone involved in robbery offences in the county,” he said.

“All such crimes will be investigated thoroughly by officers and offenders brought to justice.”

Speaking at the time of the robbery, DC Jones called the incident “completely unacceptable”.

Calling for anyone with information to come forward, he said: “Police regularly conduct patrols throughout the town centre and Bournemouth Gardens to proactively prevent crime and disorder.

“We will continue to do so following this incident to offer further reassurances to the public.”

In August 2016, a total of 43 crimes were reported in and around the Lower Gardens.

Of these,18 reports were made of offences in Exeter Road, nine in Exeter Gardens and 12 in either the Pavilion or its car park.