A VIOLENT robber was jailed for four years yesterday after being labelled as a danger to the public by a judge.

Stacey Maxwell, 31, of Mann Street, South Shields, has a string of violent convictions stretching back to 1986, including robbery, assaults, firearms offences and carrying offensive weapons.

In the latest incident he robbed two boys outside Chichester Metro station as they returned home on October 20 last year.

Alec Burns, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court how the youngsters, aged 14 and 15, were approached by Maxwell, the leader of a gang of four, as they walked along Dean Street.

He hemmed them in and demanded they hand over their belongings or he would "slit their throats".

One handed over a personal stereo, while the other was forced to hand over his stereo and a watch.

The court also heard how on August 8, Maxwell flew into a rage when he was stopped by a ticket inspector at the same station.

A police officer intervened and a search revealed Maxwell had a kitchen knife and a Stanley knife stashed in the waistband of his trousers.

Maxwell was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to two charges of robbery and two charges of having an offensive weapon.

Passing sentence judge David Wood said: "You have an anti-social behaviour disorder and I am of the opinion you are a risk to the public and only a custodial sentence can be justified."