Knife-point robber is jailed

Leon Barclay, of Lewisham, pleaded guilty to the three robberies on trains between Hither Green and Lewisham between September last year and October this year.

He was also found guilty following a two-day trial of a further offence of robbery of a 21-year-old man at Brockley on September 22, last year.

Barclay received an indeterminate sentence for public protection at Blackfriars Crown Court yesterday and will be eligible for parole in three-and-a-half-years.

During sentencing, recorder John Lafferty said there was a "real probability" that Barclay would commit further knifepoint robberies to finance his drug habit.

He said: "These offences were so serious that anything other than a custodial sentence is necessary because of the significant risk of you committing further offences involving the production of a knife."

Detective Constable Tony Burman, of the British Transport Police Robbery Squad said Barclay had approached his victims either on the platform or on trains asking for either money or a cigarette.

DC Burman said: "He would try and strike up a conversation and ask to borrow mobile phones. When he was refused he would then verbally threaten his victims before pulling out a knife and physically threatening them.

"On two occasions he threatened to stab his victims in the neck and arm with a kitchen knife and on another occasion his victim was threatened with a gun, but no gun was produced.

"The victim in that case bravely fought him off and called police and Barclay was soon after arrested.

"Barclay was a serial robber on trains and used violence and threats to steal i-Pods, phones and other property from mainly young passengers who were by themselves.

"He is a dangerous man who committed the offences in desperate need of financing his crack habit.

"The victims in this case have assisted police greatly by providing statements which have enabled us to put this case together and ensure he is tried for his crimes."