A 'predatory' and 'brazen' robber threatened terrified victims with a knife to force them to withdraw money from cash machines.
Anthony Robert Haslam pleaded guilty to three separate robberies, over a seven week period in Bolton town centre.
The 28-year-old was jailed for four years and eight months at Bolton Crown Court today.
Haslam's first offence took place on November 23 2021, prosecution barrister Brian Berlyne told the court.
He approached a 17-year-old college student on Great Moor Street and said: "If one more person walks past me without giving me money, I'll knock them out."
The boy took £10 out of his wallet to give to Haslam but he then ordered his victim to head to a cash machine to withdraw more.
After telling Haslam he didn't know his PIN, the boy was taken to a nearby shop.
Haslam bought £2 worth of items, and told the boy to pay.
He then asked for £10 cashback but the store refused and Haslam left.
Around a month later, on December 21, Haslam approached a woman on Newport Street and asked her for change.
He told her that he "had a knife" and was "not afraid to use it".
Haslam again marched the woman to a cash machine and as they walked, she asked if he would hurt her.
He responded: "No, as long as you give me the money," and when they got to the cash machine, he said he wanted £20.
The scared victim withdrew the money and gave it to Haslam, who then left.
Haslam's final offence took place on January 8, close to Bolton Town Hall, when he approached a 16-year-old boy and asked him for £10.
The boy initially refused but Haslam then pulled his hand out of his pocket to show the victim a fishing knife.
He told Haslam that he would withdraw him £5 but upon getting to the nearest cash machine, they discovered that it did not have £5 notes.
Haslam asked for £20 instead but the boy withdrew £10 and Haslam then left.
Mr Berlyne told the court that Haslam, of Bag Lane, Atherton, has a number of previous convictions for robbery and theft.
In a victim personal statement, the first boy said that the incident has left him 'anxious' and he now asks his mum to pick him up from college in fear that it could happen again.
The second victim said that it has left her 'scared' to get the bus to and from work, as the robbery took place close to Bolton Interchange.
Defending, Michael Johnson, described the robberies as "deeply unpleasant" and "brazen", but stressed that there was no "physical harm" to the victims.
He said: "There is a degree of remorse and acceptance that what he did was wrong and would have affected these victims.
"He was homeless at the time.
"His life has been blighted by a serious class A drug addiction."
The Honorary Recorder of Bolton Judge Martin Walsh labelled the offences as "predatory".
He jailed Haslam for four years and eight months.
