A MACHETE-WIELDING street mugger who attacked a couple as they walked home through Huddersfield town centre in the early hours has been locked up for 32 months.

Richard Gittos, who was 20 yesterday, admitted robbing Stephen Bewley of a mobile phone, earphones and a lighter and attempting to rob Emma Lomax of her rings.

Prosecutor Bashir Ahmed described how the couple had been walking along Queen Street South last month when they saw Gittos and a 15-year-old youth.

Gittos, of Lonsborough Flats, Southgate, shouted at them: “Empty your pockets. I’m not joking.”

He then produced a machete which he pointed towards Mr Bewley and he also tried to get Miss Lomax to hand over her rings.

After Gittos brandished the machete, Mr Bewley handed over his mobile phone and the other property before the duo ran off.

When police officers arrived on the scene, the couple were taken round the area and the two teenagers were arrested at a taxi premises.

Gittos admitted having the machete, but said he had got rid of it in some bushes.

He said he needed money to buy cannabis.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that shortly before the attack on the couple Gittos had tried to rob another man by putting the machete close to his chin.

On that occasion his intended victim ran off.

Gittos asked for that offence to be taken into consideration.

Judge Roger Scott told Gittos that his case was aggravated by the fact that the offences took place just 26 days after he was made the subject of a community sentence.

Judge Scott said: “On any view you’ve waved around this machete and frightened this man into handing over his mobile phone and accessories.”

The 15-year-old youth, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had his case remitted back to the youth court after he admitted a charge of handling stolen goods.