A JUDGE branded street violence a "scourge of modern life" as he jailed a robber for three years.

Michael Holden, 24, took part in an attack on a pizza delivery driver in Blackburn.

The victim was punched and kicked and his wallet stolen when his pockets were rifled.

Judge Michael Byrne, handing down the prison term, said: "Street violence is a scourge of modern life in urban areas and the public are rightly very concerned about it.

"Communities look to the courts to express their condemnation of such conduct and to indicate such conduct will not be tolerated."

Holden, of no fixed address, had pleaded guilty to the robbery.

Co-defendant Daryl Thorp, 26, of Stonyhurst Road, Blackburn, had denied the charge but was convicted by the jury. Thorp - who had drunk 13 pints at the time of the robbery - was due to be sentenced today. The defendants appeared in separate hearings at Preston Crown Court.

On the night of August 9 last year, the court was told, the victim had set off at around 10pm to deliver a pizza to a woman in flats in Montague Close, Bank Top.

After calling at the flat he was making his way back to his car when he heard footsteps behind and was grabbed around the neck.

He told the court he was punched two to three times in the face and heard a voice say "Give us your money."

The victim was pulled to the floor and punched and kicked in the face and stomach.

His pockets were searched and a wallet containing £80 cash and some bank cards taken.

The violence stopped and he was able to run to a nearby telephone box and call police. Kevin Donnelly, for Holden, said that while his client had 36 offences on his record, "practically none" were for violence.

Mr Donnelly said: "This sentence will have a significant effect upon him. There is hope that he will be a changed individual."

The court heard that Thorp had previous convictions including a robbery sentence from 2002.

That case had involved him pushing someone off a bike and stealing a computer game.

He had a total of 59 offences on his record.

His barrister, Miss Lisa Roberts, said he had a poor record and knew that he would receive a considerable custodial sentence.

Miss Roberts said: "He regrets his behaviour."

Thorp was remanded in custody.