A robber who terrified townsfolk in a spate of knifepoint robberies has begun a lengthy jail sentence as a "dangerous offender".

Rowan Hague targeted more than a dozen adults and children at random on the streets of Blyth, Northumberland, late one afternoon and early evening, earlier this year, threatening to harm them unless they handed over cash, mobile phones, or mountain bikes.

His offending spree began at about 4.30pm on Thursday, February 15, when he approached a male cycling along Chase Farm Drive, before stealing his bike.

The 23-year-old knifeman committed further similar offences in the surrounding area in the following hour.

(Image: Northumbria Police)

It included springing from a bush to grab a teenage girl and threaten to cut her throat if she and her friends did not hand over valuables.

Newcastle Crown Court heard that the speed and scale of the offending led to rumours circulating within the community of there being more than one offender.

Hasty police inquiries soon identified Hague as the sole culprit, however, and he was arrested in the early hours of the following morning.

He was later charged with eight counts of robbery and five counts of attempted robbery.

Hague, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to all charges at Newcastle Crown Court and was remanded in custody.

(Image: Northumbria Police)

He appeared back before the same court on Monday (September 9) when Recorder Anthony Kelbrick said he was in no doubt that the defendant should be classed as a “dangerous offender”.

He imposed a seven-and-a-half-year prison sentence with a three-year extended licence upon his release.

(Image: The Northern Echo)

The officer who led the investigation, Detective Constable Adele Catlow, of Northumbria Police said: “Rowan Hague is clearly a dangerous individual, and I am very pleased he has now been handed a lengthy custodial sentence.

“Thanks to the bravery of those victims who were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, we were quickly able to identify Hague and compile the evidence which left him with no choice but to plead guilty to his crimes.

“The number and severity of these offences shocked the town and caused a great deal of distress, and I hope this sentence will reassure those in the community.”

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She added that victims of robbery can report the crime promptly by calling 999.

Suspicious activity and behaviour can also be reported by sending police a private message on social media, or by visiting the live chat forum on the force website.

For those unable to contact police in that way, they should then use the 101 number.