A KNIFE-carrying thug who made a teenager strip down to his underwear before attacking and robbing him has been jailed for five and a half years.

Christopher Andrew Jolley, 25, robbed the victim’s 19-year-old friend and left a young girl terrified during the incident at a semi-derelict house in Waterloo Street, Accrington, on June 2, last year.

Prosecuting, David Traynor told Burnley Crown Court that the robbery victims - a 14-year-old boy and the man - and a 13-year-old girl had planned to go camping with other friends but when that fell through decided to spend the night in the semi-derelict house.

At around 4.30am they were awoken by Jolley, who asked if they had a cigarette lighter, and his 17-year-old co-defendant, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Mr Traynor said when the group said they didn’t Jolley “didn’t seem to accept that and became more aggressive”. The 19-year-old victim offered to go and buy a lighter for him but Jolley said he didn’t want him to do that.

Mr Traynor said Jolley then drew a knife from his trousers and began waving it around.

As a result of Jolley’s behaviour the girl began to cry but he told her she shouldn’t be scared because it was the two lads he was trying to frighten.

The 14-year-old boy was then ordered to strip down to his boxers to prove he didn’t have a lighter.

The court heard Jolley then demanded everyone put their belongings on the floor but told the girl she didn’t have to ‘because it wasn’t about her’.

Mr Traynor said Jolley got angry when the 14-year-old boy’s phone wouldn’t turn on because it had run out of battery and began asking the girl if the two males had done anything sexual to her.

He told his victims if they had just had a lighter this wouldn’t be happening. He then gave the girl £5 and told her to get a taxi home.

Jolley punched the 19-year-old in the face, causing him to fall to the floor.

The girl managed to leave the house but she was followed by both the defendants who asked how old she was.

While the younger defendant phoned a taxi for the girl, Jolley told her how much he didn’t like the14-year-old before going back inside the house.

The girl said she then heard a bang before hearing a noise which sounded like something being dragged across the floor.

Both victims then left the house, with the 14-year-old now having a gash across his jaw which required 20 stitches.

Jolley, of Longfield, Penwortham, pleaded guilty to two robberies.

Defending, Saul Brody said his client had no recollection of the incident because he was intoxicated by alcohol and cannabis. But when he saw incriminating CCTV footage on the day he was due to stand trial he pleaded guilty. He said Jolley struggled to cope after, in the space of 12 months, losing both his grandparents and his best friend Corey Hudson, and watching his partner die in his arms.

Mr Brody said: “Christopher Jolley is a troubled young man but not ordinarily a violent one.”

Jailing him but deciding against branding Jolley a dangerous offender, Judge Sara Dodd said: “I accept you are remorseful. I accept there was little or no planning. Let this be a reminder if ever one was needed of what can happen when knives are carried and produced.”