A robber who threatened a couple with a knife in order to steal a mobile phone to get cash for settling a pub tab has been jailed. 

Gage Aspin, 20, was sent to prison due to his non-compliance with community punishments including unpaid work.   

Norwich Crown Court was told the probation service had requested that his suspended sentence be activated on three occasions due to his failure to complete parts of the requirements in March, September and October. 

Recorder Simon Taylor told him he was “swinging the lead” by deliberately shirking the court imposed punishments.

READ MORE: Teen avoids jail after threatening to stab man in street robbery

After admitting robbery, Aspin, of St Marys Road, Poringland, was originally sentenced in June 2022 to two years in prison suspended for 20 months on the condition he complete 150 hours unpaid work and 30 rehabilitation days.

He had been at the Royal Oak pub in Poringland with friends in May 2021 but was left to settle the bar bill after his friends left.

The court had heard pub staff took Aspin's phone and told him he could not have it back until after he had paid the bill.

Aspin, who was then aged 18, had armed himself with a steak knife and had confronted a man and his partner who had been walking along The Street in Poringland.

He used it to threaten a couple causing them to fear he had "no choice" but to hand over his mobile phone which was worth about £1,200.

READ MORE: Norwich man accused of holding victim captive with a knife

The victim told police he had feared if he did not then he or his girlfriend would be stabbed.

The court had been told Apsin admitted the robbery represented an "appalling judgment call".

Oliver Haswell, mitigating, said Aspin had since been suffering ongoing medical issues that had prevented him from attending community punishments.

Recorder Simon Taylor said he had seen “no substantial evidence” to prove this and ordered he serve 18 months in prison.