A MAN has been jailed for 18 months for a Bradford city centre robbery that left a student and his girlfriend frightened and unnerved.

Toyaib Mahmood was goaded on by others to snatch an e-cigarette from his victim’s pocket as walked hand in hand with his girlfriend near the Interchange, Bradford Crown Court heard.

He was part of a group that closely followed the couple at 3.30pm before he approached his victim.

Mahmood, 22, of Cockroft Grove, Barkerend, Bradford, then demanded the young man’s phone and grabbed his headphones.

When the student backed off against a wall and then fled, Mahmood chased after him but was detained by a brave passer-by, the court heard.

The headphones fell to the ground during the pursuit.

Mahmood pleaded guilty to robbing the student of the £30 e-cigarette on January 6 last year.

His admission came just days before he was due to stand trial after denying the offence.

The student said in his victim personal statement that he used to come into Bradford city centre every day but he was now very nervous, especially near the Interchange.

His mental health had been affected in a big way and he was no longer happy to be out after dark.

His girlfriend was terrified, describing Mahmood as “aggressive and threatening.”

She feared he was going to hit her boyfriend, the court was told.

Mahmood had previous convictions for assault occasioning actual bodily harm, theft and possession of an air weapon in a public place.

His barrister, Shufqat Khan, drew the court’s attention to a psychological report, a report from the probation service and a letter from Mahmood to the judge.

Mr Khan said his client’s mental deficiencies made him naïve and vulnerable to exploitation by others.

They had urged him to commit the robbery as a dare.

Minimal force was used, Mr Khan said, and Mahmood had stayed out of trouble since.

His father and sister were keeping a close eye on him and he was getting medical help with his problems.

But Recorder Taryn Turner said it was a very serious offence.

“It was an extremely unnerving and very frightening experience for this young couple,” she said.

It was a persistent robbery in which Mahmood pursued the student when he tried to escape.

During Wednesday's hearing, Recorder Turner praised the unnamed member of the public who detained him until the police arrived, saying he or she was to be commended for their bravery.