A terrified student was told he would be chopped up and thrown in the river when he was robbed at knifepoint by two men in Norwich.

The victim, who was studying graphic design in the city at the time, left his flat in the middle of the night to go for a walk as he could not sleep.

Norwich Crown Court heard after leaving his property in New Mills Yard just days before Christmas he encountered Ryan Selwin and Anakin Culley.

New Mills Yard, NorwichNew Mills Yard, Norwich (Image: Newsquest) Martin Ivory, prosecuting, said the pair, both now 20, approached the victim who "felt trapped" as he had a lamp post behind him and could not escape.

Selwin produced a meat cleaver and said "What have you got for me?"

Ryan Selwin (left) and Anakin Culley Ryan Selwin (left) and Anakin Culley (Image: Facebook) Although the victim produced a vape and keys, Selwin and Culley continued to go through his pockets. 

Mr Ivory said Selwin told the victim he was going to get slashed and made threats to "chop you up and throw you in the river" in the robbery which happened at about 3.30am on December 21, 2022.

Selwin, of Larch Grove, North Elmham and Culley, of Cannell Green, Norwich, both appeared at court after admitting robbery.

Norwich Crown CourtNorwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Selwin also admitted possession of a bladed article.

Before the pair were sentenced, the victim read out a statement describing how he had become anxious going out and suffered panic attacks since the robbery.

He also told of how he has had to "move from Norwich" back to where he grew up to try and build his confidence up again.

Lord Justice Edis said robbing people in the middle of the night with a meat cleaver was an "extremely serious offence".

He said it was the sort of offence which "frightens people" and which could lead to injury or even death.

Selwin was given 30 months on a young offender's institution (YOI) and Culley got 27 months YOI.

Michael Clare, mitigating for Selwin, said both he and his co-defendant had demonstrated "immaturity".

He said at the time he was just 18 and a "stupid boy" who was "entirely out of his depth and tried to act like a big criminal" and was "showing off to friends", even boasting on social media that he had robbed someone.

Andrew Oliver, mitigating for Culley, said it had been "stupid and reckless behaviour" as a result of having consumed a "large amount of alcohol".