A MAN who threatened to stab people unless they handed over their mobile phones on board a New Brighton train has been jailed.

Keith Cross, 25, of Curzon Road, Rochdale pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday, January 10.

He was sentenced to four years and three months due to a previous breach of license and after threatening two men on Monday, November 27 last year.

The court heard that at around 10.30pm Cross approached his first victim on a train heading towards New Brighton, demanding he handed over his phone and wallet otherwise he would stab him.

The 27-year-old victim gave Cross his phone and £10 in cash.

Cross then moved down the train and approached his second victim; pulling the man’s earphones out before threatening to stab him unless he gave him his phone.

The victim handed over the phone and Cross ran off the train at Birkenhead North station.

Following a media appeal which featured CCTV images of Cross, he was identified by members of the public and arrested.

Investigating officer detective constable Ian Henderson said: “Both Cross’ victims were left shaken and feared for their lives as they genuinely thought they would be stabbed if they refused his demands.

“Despite no knife being produced, Cross’ aggression and threats of violence were enough to cause the victims to hand over expensive phones.

“One of those phones contained photographs of the victim’s daughter, who was at the time seriously ill in Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

“Sadly despite our best efforts, neither phones have been retrieved.

“Cross’ sentence reflects the severity of his crime and should give him time to contemplate his actions.”