TWO men jailed for a total of six and a half years for a night-time robbery in Bradford city centre are a warning to others that such offending with not be tolerated, a judge said yesterday.

Yesterday, Benjamin Hanslip, 31, was locked up for three and a half years and Christopher Rhodes, 21, for three years after both were convicted by a jury at Bradford Crown Court last month.

Hanslip, of Cliffe Terrace, Baildon, and Rhodes, of Ivy Bank Court, Baildon, were accused of robbing two students outside the Alhambra theatre at 3.30am on May 18 last year.

The jury cleared them of robbing one young man, but both were convicted of robbing a second student of a £10 note and a rucksack containing an iPad.

During the trial, the court heard the two students were waiting on a bench outside the theatre for a taxi when Hanslip and Rhodes approached.

All four had been drinking heavily and the defendants asked for cigarettes before demanding money.

Rhodes seized both students in a headlock and all three went to the ground. He and Hanslip were shouting threats and encouraging one another, the court heard.

The victim threw a £10 note down for the men and his rucksack and was taken.

The money was found on Hanslip after his arrest.

The student suffered minor scratches to his neck and his rucksack, taken from the scene by someone else, was never recovered.

Two passers-by intervened and dealt out "summary justice" by attacking the men. Hanslip was knocked unconscious and Rhodes repeatedly kicked in the head.

Stephen Grattage, barrister for Rhodes, said the robbery began as drunken bravado but escalated to a point when property was taken.

Rhodes had shown remorse for his aggression that night, in that he conceded would have been frightening for the students.

"This is a very young man who has moved on," Mr Grattage said.

Rhodes had lost his apprenticeship because of publicity surrounding the court case.

David McGonigal, for Hanslip, said his client received a severe beating that night from the two passers-by. The father of two had problems with alcohol that he was willing to address.

Judge Mark Savill said Hanslip and Rhodes had both taken far too much drink that night.

"On one view, it was an idiotic offence committed when in drink, but the victims will take the view that they must be able to go out at night and come home safely. They were physically attacked and threatened and property was lost.

"I must send a message that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated," the judge said.