A MUGGER who terrorised the streets of Teesside was put behind bars for six years yesterday - on his birthday.

Six-foot-six Paul Bailey, 19, always frisked his teenage victims for cash and mobile phones before stamping on their heads or using a knife, stick or bottles as weapons.

He pleaded guilty to five robberies, three attempted robberies, two assaults with intent to rob, unlawful wounding, violent disorder and common assault, all of which took place in Middlesbrough and Coulby Newham.

He also asked for two more attempted robberies and an assault to be taken into consideration.

Judge David Bryant told him: "You carried on a sort of one man reign of terror."

Bailey, of Woodlands Road, Middlesbrough, was brought to book by street warden Peter Riley who twice saw him riding stolen motorcycles, said John Gillette, prosecuting.

Bailey was released on bail three times only to continue his robberies, which spanned from March to August last year, Teesside Crown Court was told.

His first victim said he had no money, so Bailey burned his jacket. A youth who intervened at his next robbery when the victim was on the ground, had a bottle smashed over his head.

Then, during one of two robberies within a 25-minute late afternoon period, a teenager in Coulby Newham was punched in the face ten times by Bailey, who then stamped on his head and face another ten times.

In another incident, Bailey held a knife to a 14-year-old boy's chest and ordered him to give up his mini disc player, the court was told.

The next day, he robbed two teenage brothers in Middlesbrough town centre after a cinema outing.

Tim Roberts, defending, said that Bailey committed the offences through drink.