A man from West Norwood committed two violent robberies and trapped a woman in her car while on a week-long drinking binge in Weymouth last year.

Terry Spriggs, 29, of Moore Road, West Norwood, was jailed for four-and-a-half years on Friday, February 19, for offences carried out in Weymouth and Portland.

Judge James Meston said the offences, which took place in October last year, 'displayed a frightening level of violence'.

Patrick James, prosecuting, said Spriggs and an unknown man forced entry to the Weymouth home of Jonathan Tagart, where they forced him to the floor and beat him.

Mr James said Spriggs also threatened Mr Tagart with a syringe and said he would ‘put a bullet in his head’ if he told the police.

Four days later Spriggs and another man were said to have demanded money from Lance Hastings at his home in Portland and later to have trapped Mr Hastings' partner, Tracy Gulliver, in her car taking her engagement ring. They then exchanged the ring with Mr Hastings in return for £230.

Alastair Edie, representing Spriggs, said his client had a history of offending and drug problems but had been rebuilding his life and was forging a successful career as a gym instructor.

However, he said Spriggs had relapsed into offending during a 'week-long drinking binge' in Weymouth.

John Edwards, 37, from Weymouth, who took part in one of robberies and the false imprisonment was also handed a three-year jail term.

Both men pleaded guilty to the charges.