A COLLEGE student has had to give up her studies after being subjected to a street attack.

Katrina Mitchell feared she was going to have her throat cut when Keith Anderson threatened her after she left a night class in Darlington in March.

Anderson was yesterday locked up indefinitely after a judge ruled that he posed a significant risk of harm to members of the public.

Judge David Bryant made the ruling after hearing how the 21-year-old had two previous convictions for knife attacks.

Anderson used a kitchen knife during a fight in 2004 and was later jailed for three-and-a-half years for stabbing a man with a lock-knife during a disturbance.

Teesside Crown Court was told that Anderson was highly intoxicated when he held a three-inch door key to Miss Mitchell's side and demanded money in Duke Street, near the town centre.

The 19-year-old victim thought he had a knife or potato peeler when he struck at 8.30pm, grabbing her jacket and telling her: "If you don't come round the corner, I'll slit your throat."

Graeme Gaston, prosecuting, said Miss Mitchell was able to get her mobile phone out of her bag and call the police.

Mr Gaston said Anderson walked calmly from the scene as his victim dialled 999, but was later traced from CCTV footage of the area.

Anderson, of Broadway, Darlington, initially denied being at the scene, but later admitted attempted robbery when security camera evidence was shown to him.

Judge Bryant imposed a sentence for public protection with a minimum tariff of 21 months.

He told Anderson that he would be considered for release when he was no longer deemed a risk.

He said: "The girl was clearly terrified by the experience, and has continued to be terrified as a result of what you did to her.

"You not only attempted to rob her, you did so using an object which you intended to be perceived by her as a knife or similar weapon.

"I can come to no other conclusion than that you are a thoroughly dangerous young man and members of the public are at risk of serious physical or psychological harm from you."

The court was told that Miss Mitchell is now afraid to go out alone and has given up her studies as a result of what happened.

She has also broken down in tears while walking through the area of her ordeal.

Jonathan Walker, mitigating, said of Anderson: "Drink poisons him greatly and makes him act entirely out of character.

"He is, when sober, a rather amiable and pleasant young man, but in drink he is not.

"The circumstances of the robbery are unforgivable and extremely unpleasant, but this was not a planned incident and he would wish a genuine and wholehearted apology to be made."