A ROBBERY victim feared he was going to die when he had a knife held to his throat during a hold- up in Southampton.

Now the ringleader of a gang, who brandished a blade when they targeted students in a Southampton park, has been locked up.

Mouad Mouhout, 18, who was under the influence of drugs at the time, was branded as a considerable risk to the community.

“You are a worrying individual,” said Judge Peter Ralls QC, jailing Mouhout for 18 months at the city crown court.

Four others were spared custody.

Prosecutor Tessa Kingston described how one victim James Chadwick was approached by a group as he was using an underpass in Bitterne Road.

One of the gang pushed him and another went through his pockets to take his mobile phone and disposable lighter.

The following evening, the students were sitting on a bench in Freemantle Common drinking beer when the gang came over.

Mouhout produced the large kitchen knife as demands for money were made. One of the victims was headbutted when he tried to resist, and the group ran off with an iPhone.

In a statement, student Arsentis Leontjevs told how he thought he was going to die and would never see his family again.

A second said the robbery had terrified him and that he thought his friend was going to die.

“I felt helpless, ” he said.

The third said the incident had affected his sleep and his studies and he no longer used the common.

Ms Kingston said that about a quarter of an hour later the group came upon another man walking with his girlfriend through an alleyway and he had his iPhone taken.

Between them, Mouhout, of Sullivan Road, Jac Winterburn, 18, of Victoria Road, Netley Abbey, and three youths who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted five charges of robbery and attempted robbery.

Winterburn received 18 months’ supervision and a 75-hour community work order.

One 17-year-old was handed 18 months’ supervision and a four-month curfew on Friday and Saturday nights.

A second also received 18 months’ supervision and a six-month curfew. A 15-year-old was remitted to the Youth Court for sentence.