THREE thugs involved in a violent robbery were tonight (Tuesday, February 9) behind bars after a judge said they had caused "enormous emotional trauma".

The terrified victim feared for his life and tried to throw himself from a moving car, Teesside Crown Court heard.

The 23-year-old was offered a lift home from a house party in Redcar then realised he was being driven in the opposite direction.

For the next hour, he was repeatedly punched and kicked, bitten and throttled before one of the gang took his phone and cash card.

David James Venis demanded the card's PIN number and warned the victim he would be "sliced up" before he stole £200 from the account.

Car driver Stephen McCann, 25, then headed to Wilton Village where his pals Venis and David Anthony Venis continued the assault.

Prosecutor Emma Atkinson told the court how the victim tried to unbuckle his seatbelt and jump from the Alfa Romeo but was stopped.

At one point, the gang threatened they would kill him if he reported his October 1 ordeal to police, said Miss Atkinson.

In an impact statement which was read to the court, the man said his confidence had been affected and he had trouble sleeping.

He said he feared he was going to be murdered, and suffered from flashbacks when he sat in the back of a car.

Andrew Turton, for McCann, of St Mary's Court, Grangetown, had not been involved in the violence, and did not have the "moral fibre" to stand up to what was going on.

Graham Brown, for David James Venis, 30, of Clive Road, Middlesbrough, said the former soldier had showed in the past he could stay out of trouble.

"This was not pre-planned against a hapless victim," said Mr Brown. "It was a situation which arose out of a set of circumstances."

Paul Cleasby said David Anthony Venis, 28, of Birchington Avenue, Grangetown had been haunted throughout his life since an incident in childhood.

All three men were jailed for four years after pleading guilty to robbery.

Judge Michael Taylor told them: "It is evident from what he has said that whilst he may not have suffered the greatest physical injuries, he suffered enormously from emotional trauma. He genuinely believed his life was at risk."