TWO Blackburn men with bad records, who tried to rob a student in the street, have both been given prison sentences.

Their 17-year-old victim was said to have been accosted in an intimidating way and a demand made for money. But Peter Haworth and Carl Barnes ended up running away empty-handed, Preston Crown Court heard.

Haworth, 27, formerly of Belle Vue Street, had denied attempted robbery, but was convicted after trial. Barnes, aged 26, of Saunders Road, had pleaded guilty to the charge.

Jeremy Lasker, prosecuting, said the 17-year-old was effectively accosted on Whalley New Road by the two defendants who went up very close to him in an intimidating way.

The teenager was asked for a light and one of them demanded money.

The student was scared, but at that time a vehicle arrived and the defendants ran off. As luck would have it, the teenager was later making his way to report the matter to police when he happened to see Haworth and Barnes. He was therefore able to identify them and both were arrested.

Mr Roderick Priestley, for Haworth, said his client had a long and appalling record and was a heroin addict. He was last month given 12 months prison for harassment. He accepted that what happened must have been a frightening experience for the teenager, being confronted as he was. No violence had been used.

Mr Priestley added: "He has been a long term heroin addict. Most of his dishonesty convictions were committed to fund that habit."

Ian Whitehurst, for Barnes, said he was easily led by associates. He had used drugs in the past, but was now free of them.

He had a bad record and had spent the last five months on remand for the current offence. Barnes had been sentenced in 1999 for a previous attempted robbery, but force had been used on that occasion.

Judge Andrew Blake sentenced Barnes to 21 months in prison.

Haworth received 27 months, to run consecutive to the 12 months he is already serving.