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A robber who threatened four boys with a large kitchen knife in a string of attempted heists has been jailed.
Jake Milner-Homewood produced the blade and demanded drugs from his victims in Ramsgate high street on February 18 last year.
He first approached a 14-year-old boy and asked if he had any "powder or weed".
When the boy told him he did not, Milner-Homewood, of Ramsgate Hill, became aggressive and pulled a large kitchen knife from his inside jacket pocket.
The victim ran away past three other teenage boys aged between 15 and 17, who were all stood together at a cash machine.
They were then approached by Milner-Homewood, 25, who asked them for drugs before again producing the knife and demanding they hand over their wallets, cash and bicycles.
They fled the scene and reported it to police.
Milner-Homewood was identified from CCTV footage and arrested.
"His actions left four innocent teenagers fearing for their safety..."
When Milner-Homewood’s victims pointed him out in an ID parade and police examined CCTV evidence he denied and admitted being in the vicinity.
During a trial at Canterbury Crown Court, the benefit claimant claimed mistaken identity and blamed his conflicting account of events on “bad mental health.”
Asked by prosecutors to explain the inconsistencies, Milner-Homewood responded: “It is my autism I made a mistake.”
Craig Evans, prosecuting, argued Milner-Homewood’s Universal Credit allowance had dried up, leaving the defendant without drug money.
“Was that why you were asking young men for green and powder, because you had no money to buy your own?”
“It is wrong,” Milner-Homewood replied.
“You are the man we see on the CCTV aren’t you,” Mr Evans continued.
“The truth is that the boys are correct when they identified you, you are the person on the High Street.”
“This is wrong,” Milner-Homewood replied.
His defence hinged on mistaken identity, claiming he was staying at a friend's King Street home, Judge James O’Mahony heard.
But he was convicted of four counts of attempted robbery and one of possessing an offensive weapon and has been jailed for five-and-a-half years.
Investigating officer Detective Constable Sarah Copeland said: "Jake Milner-Homewood acted like a coward when he deliberately targeted victims who were younger than he was, using a large kitchen knife in a failed attempt to intimidate them into giving him their belongings.
"Knife crime is completely unacceptable and anyone who uses a blade to carry out an offence can expect to receive a custodial sentence just like Milner-Homewood.
"His actions left four innocent teenagers fearing for their safety and I am glad the jury saw fit to convict him for these very serious offences."
