A THUG who wielded a knife and robbed a boy of his new mountain bike is behind bars for 18 months.

William Sutherland, 17, had threatened to stab the 15-year-old victim, and had then ridden off on his £450 Christmas present, after swiping the knife across the boy’s knuckles.

The defendant has a record for violence and Recorder Alan Conrad, QC, said that the only sentence was custody. Sutherland, from Burnley, but of no fixed address, was sent to a young offenders’ institution, after admitting robbery, last February, at the town’s crown court.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, said that the victim’s bike had been his pride and joy, and he wouldn’t let anyone else use it.

He had met two friends in the Accrington Road area of Burn-ley, and Sutherland was also there. He asked for a go on the bike and the victim refused, but Sutherland put his hands on the handle bars to stop the schoolboy riding off and then told him to get off, or he would stab him.

Sutherland then produced a pocket knife, extended the three inch blade and swiped it across the victim’s knuckles so the boy let go of the cycle.

Sutherland then rode off.

The court was told that Sutherland had claimed that the victim had lent him the bike and he had not taken it without consent at all.

Kevin Preston, for Sutherland, said that his client, who had been on remand 81 days, had been in custody for the first time and appeared to have made constructive use of his time.