A PROLIFIC railway robber has been jailed for four years. Lee Shrubsole, 19, committed 11 robberies, mainly on trains between Hayes, Kent, and St Johns, Lewisham.

On one occasion Shrubsole smashed a bottle and held the jagged edge of the glass to the victim’s throat, according to police.

On another a stolen card was traced to a sports store where Shrubsole was captured on CCTV purchasing £320 worth of gear on one of his victim’s cards.

Det Con Denis Stonestreet, of the British Transport Police robbery squad, said Shrubsole had targeted commuters as young as 12, stealing debit and credit cards, i-pods and mobile phones and cash.

He said: “He usually targeted lone males, attempting to strike up a conversation with them before turning on them and then robbing them.

"At first he merely alluded to the fact that he was carrying a knife, but as he continued his robbery spree, at least one victim said he produced a knife during the robbery and others reported he was using glass bottles as weapons.

"It was clear that the level of violence being used was escalating. During a robbery on May 27 between Elmers End and Ladywell a 20-year-old victim was threatened with a glass bottle which was held to the victim’s stomach and then his throat. The victim was obviously terrified and in fear of his life.”

Shrubsole, from Catford, was arrested by police soon after the attack.

Sentencing him at Southwark Crown Court Judge Goymer said Shrubsole had “conducted a reign of terror” on railway passengers.

“What you did was target young men, some school-aged boys, threatened and terrorised them into handing over their belongings,” he said.

Judge Goymer said he had a duty to hand down a sentence which would act as a deterrent to those who may be tempted to indulge in aggressive and violent behaviour on public transport.