A TEENAGER who carried out a “terrifying” street robbery at knifepoint is behind bars.

Reece Middleton pulled out a carving knife on Julian Raffle outside his home and fled with more than £1,000 in cash in October last year.

Now a judge has sentenced him to five years in prison after Middleton, 19, was found guilty of robbery at a trial in March.

Southampton Crown Court heard how Mr Raffle had been out collecting rent on behalf of a friend on the evening of October 1, 2012.

He returned to his home in Peel Street and took out £1,355 in cash in a bag from his car.

Mr Raffle noticed two hooded youths walking along the opposite side of the street before Middleton pulled out an eight-inch carving knife and demanded the cash, the court heard.

Mr Raffle shouted to his partner Katharina Krajczewski to call the police before running along the road.

He fell and saw Middleton standing over him, pointing the knife in his direction.

The court heard that Middleton held the knife towards Mr Raffle’s stomach and chest.

Middleton, of Holcroft Road, Southampton, grabbed the bag and ran, before Mr Raffle chased him onto nearby Cable Street and into Wilson Street.

Police officers found an out-of-breath Middleton later that evening in Melbourne Street with £250 in cash. The rest of the money was found in a heavy goods vehicle nearby.

He argued he had been to a friend’s house in Thornhill and the money was to buy a present for his mother.

Ms Maylin told the court Middleton had nine previous convictions for 19 offences, including assaulting a police officer in April 2010.

Ryan Seneviratne, defending Middleton, said: “He is a young man of 19 years of age.

“I ask to keep the sentence as short as possible for him to come out and make a life in the future. Thankfully the money was recovered in full – both on the defendant and in the bag.

“The defendant wishes me to say that he thoroughly accepts the finding of the court and understands he has to be punished in this matter.”

Sentencing Middleton, Judge Patrick Hooton said: “This is a very serious street robbery with terrifying consequences for the man you robbed.

“I have no doubt this was pre-planned.

It wasn’t a coincidence that you and your friend were there at the time the unfortunate Mr Raffle had money going into the house.

“It was a very serious offence. Taking into account your age and the fact you have never done anything like this before, the least sentence I can give you is five years’ imprisonment.”