A BULLY who stole a teenager's BMX bike after punching him in the face was yesterday jailed for two years.

As he rode off, Carl Foley warned his victim's friend: "If you ring the police, I'll come back and drop you as well."

Foley, 20, floored the 15year-old in Middlesbrough town centre, on April 19, before stealing the £600 bike.

The following day, police found closed circuit television camera footage showing Foley and two friends.

Foley initially said he was not responsible for the robbery, but confessed after being picked out in an identity parade.

In a letter to Teesside Crown Court, Foley said he now understood that he should not have picked on someone younger.

His barrister, Mike Bosomworth, told the court: "The defendant wants to finally grow up and make something of his life." The court heard how Foley, of Tennyson Avenue, Grangetown, had 67 offences on his record going back to when he was 13.

Mr Bosomworth described him as "a terror in the community" but said he was keen to change his ways.

He said Foley had calmed down when he got a job last year, but drifted back into the same crowd of people.

A report by the Probation Service said Foley committed offences to seek attention.

Mr Bosomworth said Foley's girlfriend was expecting their baby in February and he was finally showing signs of maturing.

The court heard that Foley, who admitted robbery, was given a suspended jail sentence last August for burglary and driving matters.

In May, he was jailed for theft and possessing an offensive weapon, and the suspended sentence was activated.