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Neil Lawton, 23, was with the 17-year-old, who can't be named for legal reasons, when they approached the students on Cardigan Lane, Burley, Leeds, on June 20.

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Lawton, of Bracken Court, Lower Wortley, held an empty beer bottle above the male student's head and demanded he empty his pockets, Leeds Crown Court heard.

When the victim said he didn't have any money, he moved onto the female student and held the bottle over her head, despite the 17-year-old saying: "He doesn't hurt girls.""

The pair eventually left with the woman's handbag and a carrier bag containing alcohol.

The defendants, who both have previous convictions, later admitted the robbery.

Sentencing Lawton to three years in jail, Recorder Colin Burn said: "It seems to me that what you did in this case, arming yourself with a bottle and threatening both of the students to take what little they have off them, is so serious that only a custodial sentence can be passed.""

Sentencing the 17-year-old to an 18 month detention and training order, he added: "The public would be outraged if any other sentence were passed other than a custodial one.

"I have to bear in mind the two students who were held at bottle point by your co-accused while you stood there offering more than moral support.""