A 15-year-old boy has been ruled a public danger and locked up for at least two years for a series of knife-point robberies on the city’s streets.

The Bradford teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, threatened youngsters with weapons to steal their phones.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday his criminal career began when he was 12.

He tried to steal a boy’s bicycle but the youngster peddled off.

In 2009, the defendant was sentenced to a referral order for the knife point robbery of a youth’s phone.

His victim was punched to the ground in the street, the court heard.

Last year, the teenager received a detention and training order for threatening a youth with a screwdriver in Bradford city centre and snatching his phone.

Prosecutor Stephen Wood said the boy was now being sentenced for an attempted robbery on February 27 this year and for four further attempted robberies.

Three took place the previous day and one in March last year.

Mr Wood said one offence included the boy spitting in front of an elderly man, challenging him to a fight and waving a knife at him.

In another incident, the defendant blocked the path of three youths on White Abbey Road at 9.30pm on February 26.

The defendant demanded cigarettes and ran his fingers menacingly along the blade of a knife in a threat.

The terrified trio fled to a nearby takeaway and took refuge.

On February 27, the teenager targeted a young man who had recently come to the UK from a Bangladeshi refugee camp.

He pushed him on to railings, drew a knife and demanded his phone. His victim escaped when another man intervened.

The boy’s barrister, Shufqat Khan, said he had a low IQ and had never caused anyone serious injury.

He said that the defendant was now finally beginning to realise the error of his ways.

Judge Robert Bartfield sentenced him to an indeterminate sentence for public protection.

He must spend at least two years in custody before he can be considered for release.