A 15-YEAR-OLD thug who targeted students in a spate of violent robberies has been locked up for five years.

James McKerrow ambushed his victims, hitting one victim with an iron bar and threatening another with a knife.

The teenager has a long criminal record and embarked on his latest spree only weeks after being released from youth custody for a series of eight robberies.

McKerrow, of Robin Close, Farnworth, showed no emotion as Judge Bruce Macmillan at Bolton Crown Court sentenced him to a maximum five-year detention and training order.

The teenager attacked students during the day and late at night, in the town centre and the Deane area of Bolton.

He told his frightened victims that he had a knife and would use it if they did not allow themselves to be searched.

McKerrow was charged with three robberies and one robbery with intent.

Jeremy Grout-Smith, prosecuting, said an 18-year-old student was attacked with an iron bar as he took a short cut off Deane Road after midnight on February 5.

McKerrow demanded his wallet and when he refused, the thug punched him in the face, headbutted him and hit him on the head with an iron bar. He took £15 from the student along with a silver necklace and his watch.

McKerrow also attacked a teenager in Deane Road at 7pm on January 16 who refused to hand over the cash he was carrying. When he protested, he was dragged into a side street and searched.

A 17-year-old student was walking past the Water Place in Bolton on January 29 when McKerrow asked him for 50p. As he gave him the money, the robber headbutted him and took his mobile phone.

On another occasion, a 24-year-old student was walking through the college grounds on January 24 when McKerrow and four other males asked him for money. He was punched and his wallet was stolen.

The court heard that McKerrow's previous convictions included eight robberies and convictions for assault, burglary, possession of cannabis and possession of an offensive weapon and criminal damage.

Nigel Rouse, defending, said McKerrow came from a family where his mother had six other children. Although she tried her best, he had begun to mix with a bad crowd following his father's death and had begun a cycle of offending.

McKerrow was arrested as a result of a police operation to combat street crime in Bolton. It is an ongoing operation being co-ordinated by Bolton CID and the new Robbery Unit. Det Insp Andy Aston said: "The conviction illustrates our determination to combat street robberies.

"Anyone who commits such offences will be arrested and dealt with swiftly and sternly by the courts.

"This type of crime will not be tolerated and we hope the sentence passed sends a strong warning to anyone thinking of committing such an offence."

He added: "McKerrow was a persistent young offender who was not adverse to using violence."