A YOUNG couple were threatened and robbed in Huddersfield, a court heard.
The two thugs who carried out the robbery were jailed yesterday.
Bradford Crown Court was told that multiple repeat offender James Dransfield, 18, had a Staffordshire bull terrier dog.
Ryan Wormald, 19, brandished a baseball bat as the couple were told to hand over their belongings.
Wormald, of Bankfield Avenue, Taylor Hill, put the bat in the stomach of the 17-year-old youth and Dransfield, of Brownroyd Avenue, Rawthorpe, snatched the 16-year old girl's handbag.
Wormald told a probation officer later that if the youth had shown any more resistance he would have used the bat in order to get his phone.
The court was told the couple were walking through Paddock when the defendants got out of a car.
The girl said she became worried as the pair both had hoodies on with the hoods up, so crossed over to the other side of the road.
But Dransfield and the dog followed and the pair were told to empty their pockets. They refused, so Dransfield shouted to Wormald to bring the bat. He removed it from his sleeve and put it in the youth's stomach.
The youth's £140 phone was taken and after a brief struggle Dransfield got hold of the girl's handbag.
She later told police she was upset, angry and left crying.
Barrister Giles Bridge, for Dransfield, urged the judge to impose a suspended sentence on his client.
He said Dransfield wanted to settle down with his partner and their new baby.
The court was told that Dransfield had previous convictions for assault, criminal damage and burglary, as well as numerous breaches of an anti-social behaviour order (Asbo).
But Mr Bridge said Dransfield wanted to put his offending ways behind him.
Sarah Barlow, for Wormald, said that the offence was fuelled by drink. Her client had now cut down on his drinking.
Judge Christopher Prince jailed Dransfield and Wormald for 18 months each. He said only a custodial sentence was justified for such a serious offence.
