A man who tried to mug a teenager at knife point on a service bus was jailed for 30 months at Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday.
Shane Cooper latched onto his 17-year-old victim while travelling on the service from Boston to Spalding and then pulled out a knife as the bus reached Donington.
Phil Howes, prosecuting, said that Cooper asked if he could have the boy’s rucksack but the boy turned down the suggestion.
Mr Howes said: “The defendant then held the knife at arm’s length with the blade facing the victim.”
Cooper demanded that the boy hand over his rucksack.
Mr Howes said: “The victim was scared.
“He was frightened that he would be stabbed but he bravely refused.
“The defendant then left and went upstairs.”
Cooper was arrested later but made no comment when he was interviewed.
Cooper (22), of Herring Lane, Spalding, admitted attempt robbery on September 18.
At the time of the offence he was on a probation supervision order and also on bail for theft.
Judge Michael Heath told him: “I can’t justify anything other than a custodial sentence for an offence of this sort.”
Liz Harte, defending, said the incident on the bus happened very shortly after Cooper was himself robbed in Boston bus station.
She said “His mind was confused and his subsequent actions reflect the irrational thought processes going through his mind at the time.”