A ROBBER who held a broken bottle to his victim's face and demanded money has been jailed for four years and nine months.

Billy Barclay admitted carrying out the terrifying, early hours attack in Exeter Park Road, Bournemouth.

The 29-year-old was sentenced at Bournemouth Crown Court.

The court heard the victim, a 20-year-old Thai man who was visiting Bournemouth, was attacked between 3am and 4am on Sunday July 9 last year.

He was approached by Barclay and another man who asked for a cigarette. The victim told the men he didn’t have any and continued walking.

The victim then felt a thud to the back of his neck and saw Barclay with a broken bottle in his hand. Barclay held the broken bottle to the victim’s face and demanded money. The victim did not have any money and was told to hand over his bank card and go to the cashpoint.

The victim said he didn’t have it and was patted down by the second man. Barclay then grabbed headphones from the victim’s neck and stole his mobile phone.

Immediately after the incident a group of around 10 people walked past and Barclay and the second man pretended they were friends with the victim, before hugging him and handing back the stolen items.

The victim suffered pain to his neck but, following an x-ray, no injuries were found. The headphones were submitted for forensic examination and a full DNA sample was obtained from a blood swab which matched Barclay, from Camberley in Surrey. He was subsequently arrested and charged.

The second man was not identified.

Detective Constable Sara Watts, of Bournemouth CID, said: "Billy Barclay targeted his lone victim and subjected him to a frightening ordeal.

"I hope the sentence handed out by the court today will remind offenders that violence such as this will not be tolerated in our communities."