A MAN who robbed two elderly men on the streets of Dudley to get money to send back to his family in Poland has been put behind bars for three years.

Patryk Brzezikski was with an accomplice when he struck for the first time as the pair targeted a man shortly before midnight in Priory Street.

They went either side of terrified victim Michael Gadd and patted his pockets before taking his wallet containing £15, his bus pass and a set of keys, Caroline Harris, prosecuting, told Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Then, two days later, 75-year-old Antonio Leoncini was walking alone Vicar Street in the town centre and the two robbers pulled his arms behind his back before grabbing his wallet containing an unknown amount of money.

He was shouting for help as the two men split up and ran off in different directions but the crew of a passing police car gave chase and they arrested Brzezikski in nearby Alma Place.

The second robber made good his escape and he was still being hunted by police said Miss Harris.

Afterwards Mr Gadd told police he had never previously felt unsafe after living in Dudley for over 40 years but the crime had left him "living constantly on edge."

Mr Leoncini, in a victim impact statement, said he had simply been minding his own business when he was obviously targeted by the robbers because of his age.

Recorder Peter Ievins told Brzezikski: "People are entitled to walk through the streets of the town where they live without fear.

"Both victims were elderly and vulnerable so you and another decided to take away their sense of peace and security."

Brzezikski of Wolverhampton Street, Dudley, admitted the two robberies and, the court heard, he had previous convictions in his home country for offences including robbery violence and rape.

Michael Anning, for Brzezikski said the 27-year-old, who had a wife and three children back in Poland, turned to crime after failing to find a job that paid a reasonable wage.