A cashpoint robber who targeted the old and the young in Calne has been jailed for four years and three months.

Ashley Brown first grabbed a 65-year-old man from behind as he was waiting for his £20 at a hole in the wall and snatched the cash.

Days later the 23-year-old pulled a knife on two boys in the same area of Calne and demanded they hand over their phones and wallets.

On that occasion he fled empty-handed as one of the teenagers said he would call his sister, as she had his money, and whispered to her they were being mugged.

Kerry Maylin, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the pensioner was using the cash machine at Sainsbury's just after 8.30pm on Friday, February 8.

He had just put his card away and was waiting for the money to come out when he was grabbed from behind and thrown to the ground, leaving him with grazes.

After his attacker snatched the bank note he fled, but was spotted moments later by his victim in the nearby Co-op store buying some drink.

Miss Maylin said the victim went and told staff and Brown fled without paying for the bottle.

She said the next attack took place late on the night of Monday, February 25 when two teenagers, aged 16 and 17, were in the car park on The Pippin.

They said they were approached by the man who pulled out a purple knife and told them to hand over their cash and phones.

But one of the lads said his sister had his wallet and called her, whispering 'He's got a knife', leading to her and her boyfriend to come to their rescue.

Brown fled but was caught for both offences when CCTV footage was viewed and still had the knife when he was arrested.

Brown, of Bournemouth, pleaded guilty to robbery, two counts of attempted robbery and possessing a bladed article.

Andrew Stone, defending, said his client had been in a relationship and expecting a child when social services became involved.

He was put on a parenting course but after he failed to attend he had to move out when the baby arrived.

After moving to live rough in Calne he also turned to alcohol and hard drugs to cope, which led to the offending.

He said he was sorry for what he had done and never thought he would stoop to robbing people at knifepoint.

Jailing him Judge Jason Taylor QC said the age of the victims was not wasted on him, saying he 'targeted' their vulnerability.

"He deliberately targeted an elderly man and young boys. I do not see that as a coincidence," he said.