Two teens who targeted a university student on a train before marching him to a cashpoint and forcing him to withdraw a "large quantity" of cash have been jailed.

Hussein Chaaban, 18, and Marian Wesolowski, 17, were sentenced at Blackfriars Crown Court after pleading guilty at an earlier hearing.

The court had heard how Chaaban, of Willesden Lane, Brent, and Wesolowski, of Australia Road, White City, boarded the train at Gillingham April 17 this year.

They targeted their 22-year-old university student victim, pressing an object to his leg, which he believed to be a knife.

They took property from his bag and, when they reached Victoria station, they forced him to withdraw the cash.

Chaaban was jailed for 18 months or robbery and blackmail, while Wesolowski was sentenced to 12 months behind bars for robbery.

“The extensive network of CCTV cameras on the rail network allowed us to track Chaaban and Wesolowski’s movements" - DC Denis Mahoney

They were caught after officers released high-quality CCTV images and video footage to the media as part of a witness appeal.

DC Denis Mahoney of the BTP's robbery squad, said: “The extensive network of CCTV cameras on the rail network allowed us to track Chaaban and Wesolowski’s movements from Gillingham to Victoria.

"This included high-quality images of the pair onboard the train that proved crucial in identifying the suspects when they were released to the media.

“We had an overwhelming response to our appeal, and I’d like to thank the many members of the public who came forward with information, much of which led directly to us making arrests.

“Reducing theft from passengers is a key priority for BTP and we will always fully investigate all incidents which are reported to us.”