A STREET robber has been jailed for two years after a cyclist had a broken bottle held to his throat during an attack in an underpass in central Bradford.

Matthew Ingham and his accomplice pursued their victim who was having trouble with the chain on his machine, Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday.

“He was vulnerable and an easy target,” prosecutor Caroline Abraham said.

The cyclist, who was riding to work, tried to pedal away but the chain jammed and the robbers pursued and caught up with him.

Ingham’s accomplice then slammed him against the wall and threatened him by holding a broken bottle to his neck.

He demanded his valuables while Ingham, 27, of Abbotside, Thorpe Edge, Bradford, rode off on the £50 cycle.

The second man then jumped on to it as well, punching the victim in the mouth while Ingham head-butted him.

Ingham was shouting and gesturing as he disappeared off, Miss Abraham said.

The robbery was quickly reported to the police and officers found Ingham a short distance away after his accomplice had abandoned the bike and run off.

Ingham insisted the machine was his, Miss Abraham said.

He was in drink and aggressive and hostile to the arresting officers. He refused to name his accomplice and he has not been traced.

Ingham had 18 previous convictions for 26 offences, mainly for dishonesty but some for minor offences of violence.

He was remanded in custody after his arrest and sentenced on a video link to HMP Leeds after pleading guilty to robbing the man on June 1.

Ingham’s barrister, Imran Khan, said he and his accomplice had been drinking together that day.

The defendant played a lesser role in the robbery. It was the other man who threatened the cyclist with the broken bottle.

Ingham, the father of five children, also had caring responsibilities for his parents.

He had kept out of trouble for lengthy periods in the past.

He was a changed man after being remanded in custody and resolved to stay sober in the future.

Mr Khan suggested to the court that a community order might be appropriate, coupled with a suspended sentence of imprisonment.

Recorder Patrick Palmer said the victim was threatened with a broken bottle, punched and head-butted.

The robbery was aggravated by Ingham’s previous convictions and the fact that the cyclist was attacked in the street when on his way to work.