A teenager who threatened to stab a man with learning difficulties with a screwdriver during a violent robbery attempt on a dark street has been sentenced to 38 months in a young-offender institution.

Damien Ivory and an accomplice pounced on two brothers who were walking home on a winter evening after they had bought crisps from the Mace store in Southfield Lane, Great Horton , Bradford.

Locking Ivory up yesterday, Judge Jonathan Rose said: “It was a wicked, cowardly, violent attack on two vulnerable young men.”

The victims, both with learning difficulties, were each grabbed in a headlock and their mobile phones demanded, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Ivory, who was armed with a screwdriver, threatened to stab the younger brother and kicked and punched him.

The older man broke free from Ivory’s accomplice, whom he refused to name to the police, and ran home for help.

The brothers’ mother rushed to the scene and when she shouted at the robbers they ran off.

Ivory’s victim suffered an injured finger and bruising to his eye and back.

Ivory, of Basil Street, Canterbury , Bradford, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery of a mobile phone at 7pm on January 2.

He owned up to committing the offence on the day he was to stand trial after denying it to the police and making no comment during interview.

Ivory, who was 17 at the time, was on an electronically monitored curfew as part of a sentence for house burglary dating from November last year.

His barrister, Richard Gioserano, said his client was from a good family.

Aged 16, he was hit hard by a tragic family bereavement and got into bad company, the court heard. He had used his time in custody to further his education and wanted to put his offending behind him.

Judge Rose said the two brothers were entitled to walk home in safety after a trip to their local shop to buy crisps and sweets.

He accepted that Ivory did not know the victims were vulnerable and deliberately target them.

His guilty plea had spared the brothers the frightening and unpleasant task of having to give evidence during a trial.

Ivory was locked up for 32 months for the robbery attempt and an extra six months for breaching the youth court sentence for burglary.

After the case, Detective Constable Ady Fox, of Bradford South CID, said: “This was a vicious attack in which Ivory made threats with a screwdriver.

“I am happy to see that the serious nature of his actions have been recognised by the courts and that he will now serve a significant period of time behind bars.”