A man attacked a vulnerable victim and tried to rob him just hours after being released by police following his arrest for the same offence.
Jamie Rawlinson threatened to stab his first victim outside his own home then kicked and punched his second after leading him to a quiet alleyway.
Swansea Crown Court heard Rawlinson has previous convictions for a range of offences including possession of a bladed article, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, burglary, and drug dealing – but the 29-year-old is now "beginning to understand that he needs to get a grip or he will have a very sad future indeed".
The court heard that at around 11.30pm on the night of June 26 this year a hooded Rawlinson approached a man who was smoking a cigarette outside his Pembroke Dock house and grabbed him, demanding he empty his pockets.
The victim then felt "something pointed" poking him in the chest but could not see what the object was due to the darkness.
Rawlinson then said: "If you don't help me I'm going to stab you."
The court heard the victim slowly backed away from his assailant and managed to get into his house and lock the front door.
Police were called and Rawlinson was found and arrested some 20 minutes later. He was interviewed the following day and bailed from the police station just before 6pm.
Just hours later he tried to rob a man with autism who he had just met at a friend's house. The court heard Rawlinson and his victim went for a walk and when they got a quiet alleyway the defendant attacked the vulnerable man, punching and kicking him, shouting and threatening to stab him unless he handed over his tobacco.
Rawlinson, of Colley Court, Monkton, Pembroke, admitted two counts of attempted robbery.
The court heard he has 21 previous convictions for 49 offences including for public disorder, shoplifting, burglary, possession of a bladed article, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and possession of heroin and cocaine with intent to supply.
Stuart John, for Rawlinson, said the defendant "struggles to cope when at liberty" and in the short-term believed the "best and safest place" for him was in custody.
He said the current 23-hour-a-day lockdown in prison had actually been of benefit to Rawlinson as his cellmate had been a more mature inmate who had talked to him about his life and what the coming years might hold.
The advocate added: "He [Rawlinson] is beginning to understand that he needs to get a grip or he will have a very sad future indeed."
Judge Geraint Walters said it must have been a very frightening experience for both of the defendant's victims with the first a stranger chosen at random and the second a man Rawlinson had just met and "deliberately chosen" because of his vulnerabilities.
Rawlinson was jailed for a total of six years and will serve up to half in prison before being released on licence.
