A knife-wielding robber who subjected students to terrifying daylight attacks has been jailed for life for the protection of the public.

Gary Moody, 20, robbed three Sunderland University students in just seven days during the first week of May this year.

Newcastle Crown Court heard how one 19-year-old had a large knife held to his throat and another teenager had the blade held to his chest.

During the attacks the students' cash, mobile phones, credit cards and bank cards were taken after the victims were ordered to empty their pockets.

Moody then used the cards to try to buy items such as mobile telephones from city centre shops.

He managed use one of the cards to purchase a mobile telephone but the rest were refused by shop staff.

Moody attempted to carry out a fourth attack that week, in the same area of Neville Road as the others, Sunderland, but his victim was able to make off after a knife was held to his stomach.

Moody of Gillhurst Grange, Millfield, Sunderland, admitted robbery, attempted robbery, obtaining property by deception, attempting to obtain property by deception and possessing a bladed article.

Judge David Hodson told Moody: "The circumstances of each of those three robberies and the attempted robbery seems to me to indicate quite clearly, by your taking the knife, by you brandishing the knife, by you threatening innocent members of the public with the use of that knife, you pose a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm.

"Quite clearly those four people were absolutely terrified by what you were doing and by what you might have done to them."

The court heard how on the day of the botched robbery, which happened in the early hours of May 6, Moody broke into a woman's home in Holhaven, East Rainton, near Durham, while she was sleeping.

When the victim woke her DVD player, tv and mobile telephone had been stolen - as well as her handbag which had been lying by the side of her bed.

Judge Hodson told Moody he must serve three years before the parole board can even consider him for release.

The judge told him: "The parole board will decide whether it is safe for you to be released."

Defence barrister Jamie Adams said Moody never intended to actually use the knife on any of his victims.

Mr Adams said: "Although he was brandishing a knife it is significant that even when there was resistance there was not any use of the knife.

"There has been a background of drug taking and alcohol abuse."