A GANG of muggers who carried out a string of violent attacks, including one on an elderly man, have all received lengthy jail terms.

Paul Warren, 19, got four-and-a-half years Luke Cookson, 22, and 21-year-old Jamie Loveridge, four years each, after admitting a string of street robberies.

And they won't be out until they have served two thirds of the sentences after a judge ruled they posed a significant risk of serious harm by further offending.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court how the spree of offending took place in the town centre in April.

She said the first attack occurred when the men were walking through the subway under Fleming Way at about 8.30pm on Thursday April 6.

Their victim, who knew who they were, was heading towards the bus station when they stopped him and then attacked him, stealing the bag he was carrying.

She said members of the public were shouting at them to stop as they knocked him to the ground as they tried to get his mobile phone.

About 20 minutes later she said they approached a man as he sat with a friend at the top of town and started to talk to him.

Loveridge then told him he had a knife and to hand over his stuff and they started pushing and shoving him before making off with his phone.

Two days later Warren and another man who has not been identified attacked a man near Dumbarton Terrace as he was going to the laundrette.

The victim said he was struck by a hard blow from the teenager, which he thinks temporarily knocked him out, and when he came to his bag had been taken.

Miss Squire said that a couple of days later the victim was looking out of the window of his home when he saw his attacker, and took a photo of him on his phone.

On the same day she said Warren attacked an elderly man as he was making his way home from a social club at about 6pm.

As the attacker approached him he said 'I have got something in my pocket,' making him think he was armed.

He then knocked the man to the ground and kicked him, leaving him temporarily unconscious, and when he came round his phone and cigars had gone.

Warren, of no fixed abode, admitted four robberies, Cookson, of The Crescent, Chiseldon, and Loveridge, formerly of Dumbarton Terrace, each admitted two.

All three have numerous previous convictions including other muggings and matters of violence.

Richard Williams, for Loveridge, said his client is currently serving a three years four months sentence for robbery committed in the same week.

He said his client, who was removed from the dock and sent to the cells because of his disruptive behaviour, has significant difficulties.

Rob Ross, for Cookson, said his client had not helped himself in his presentence report but had always had a work ethic.

Emma Handslip, for Warren, said he was diagnosed with attachment disorder at eight, ADHD at nine, and was also medicated for severe anxiety at eight years old.

She said he has abused alcohol and drugs since he was 11 years old but was beginning to address his problems in custody and is keen to change.

Jailing them Judge Robert Pawson said "Each of your presentence reports describes each of you as a high risk of reoffending.

"In relation to Mr Loveridge the author of the presentence report indicates that there is a high risk of serious harm to the public from offending behaviour.

"You Mr Cookson, have entrenched pro criminal attitudes and a high risk of reoffending.

"Mr Warren you are younger, you have shown remorse. It seems you are unable to control the violence that you exhibited."

As well as passing the jail terms he told them they would also be on licence for an addition two year at the end of their sentence.