TWO TEENAGERS have been jailed for three years after a spree of knife robberies.

The youths, from Evesham and Bromsgrove but cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted two robberies and an attempted robbery which happened on subsequent evenings in July last year.

The two 17 year-olds admitted forcing an 18 year-old man to hand over his phone, and searched the pockets of a 20 year-old man taking a Samsung Galaxy phone and a wallet, worth a total of £540. The pair tried to sell the phones.

They also admitted attempting to rob a 19 year-old woman, who was their first victim.

The offences took place in the Sanders Park and Worcester Road areas of Bromsgrove.

Ash Kumar, Detective Constable West Mercia Police, said: "The youths responsible were aged only 16 at the time. One was known to the police, while the other had no previous convictions.

“They were aggressive to their victims, showing them a knife, threatening to kill one of them and claiming to be part of a notorious gang. There is no doubt the victims were too afraid to resist.

“The incidents, happening as they did in the same area of Bromsgrove on subsequent evenings, caused a considerable amount of concern in the local community.

“We are pleased they have been detected and hope the sentences demonstrate the severity with which the courts view these types of offences.”

The offenders stood before Worcester Crown Court on Friday, February 14.