A STUDENT lost her unborn baby after being threatened and robbed as she walked through a Southampton underpass, a court heard.

Her attacker is today behind bars after admitting subjecting the woman to the traumatic ordeal, which a judge was told she believes was partly responsible for the distress that caused her to miscarry.

Jason Libby pushed her from behind before threatening to attack her with a knife he said was in his pocket.

The 35-year-old had followed his victim across Southampton Common as she walked alone to a lecture at the University of Southampton’s Highfield campus.

Already nervous of the man behind following “in her footsteps”, she was frightened further when he asked her for the time as she walked through the subway under The Avenue.

She carried on walking, but as she neared the underpass exit was shoved from behind. Libby, of Derby Road, Southampton, then demanded the terrified woman hand over her purse and phone, saying he had a weapon.

She showed him she had no cash on her, but he snatched her Samsung mobile, before moaning about the quality but saying he could “get 15 quid for it”.

When she tried to flee he warned her not to “make him chase her”, but she did manage to escape, flagging down a passing van to ask the driver to call 999.

Police officers were quickly at the scene and Libby was found in a nearby street.

The mobile was discovered about 20 yards away.

At Southampton Crown Court, Libby cried in the dock as he heard the victim, who now works as an occupational therapist, has suffered a miscarriage since the attack.

Judge Recorder J Watson QC said: “It was a despicable act and one which deliberately targeted someone whom you could threaten in that way.

“Several months later, she recounts the flashbacks and insecurity that continue to be a feature that dogs her life.

“She’s unsettled and tragically she has since this incident experienced a miscarriage. She cannot help but feel that there was a connection between this event and the distress that is caused, and that unhappy event.

“You know from the experience of your own family the impact that kind of event may have.”

After Libby admitted robbery, the judge sentenced him to 30 months behind bars, but reduced the term to 20 to give credit for his guilty plea and remorse.