A man from Bury who was on licence for a sex offence has been jailed after a robbery on a train.

Connor Hetherington, 31, appeared at Bolton Crown Court on May 1 for the offence. 

Hetherington, of Rochdale Road, Bury, boarded a train at Wigan Wallgate alongside two others on the evening of March 23. 

He acted in an "anti-social manner" upon boarding and began to talk to his teenage victim as it was on its way to Hindley. 

He asked him if he had music on his phone but when shut down, he said: “If you don’t give me your phone, I’m going to wrag (sic) you about everywhere and stab you.”

As Hetherington said this, he started to slowly unzip his pocket intimating he had a knife.

The victim then handed over his phone before two individuals, travelling with Hetherington, pressured him into giving the phone back. 

The train arrived at Hindley station and the victim ran to a train conductor on the platform and reported the robbery before leaving the station.

This report was passed on to British Transport Police (BTP), and when the train arrived at Manchester Victoria, officers met the train and arrested Hetherington on suspicion of robbery.

Hetherington pleaded guilty to the robbery, and was sentenced to three years imprisonment. 

He was also made to pay a victim surcharge of £228.

Investigating officer DC Melissa Catterall said: “I’m extremely pleased with the sentence handed down.

"Hetherington, who was on a conditional licence for a sexual assault when he committed this robbery, acted with immense cruelty, targeting a lone teenage traveller for his own gain.

“Although the teenager was understandably afraid, his bravery to report the crime when he did meant our officers could meet Hetherington at the station and arrest him.

“If you experience or witness a crime on the railway, you should text 61016 or via the Railway Guardian app or talk to an officer or member of staff. In an emergency, always dial 999.”