2 July 2010 Last updated at 08:33 ET

Rail robber takes bike over live tracks in Southampton

Love crossed live rails at Southampton after stealing the bicycle

A man who admitted robbing a rail passenger of his bicycle before carrying it across live tracks has been handed a 12-month suspended sentence.

Daniel Love, 33, from Somerset, threatened to stab his victim after boarding a Southampton-bound train at Portchester in December.

He pleaded guilty in April to robbery, obstructing police, assaulting a police officer and a public order offence.

He was sentenced earlier at Southampton Crown Court.

Love, of Rivers Road, Yeovil, was also given an 18-month supervision order and ordered to take part in an 18-month drug rehabilitation programme.

'Bite off nose'

The court was told that Love, who had been drinking, left the train at Southampton where he carried the bike across the tracks between platforms three and four.

He went on to abuse station staff and, when police arrived, he threatened to bite off an officer's nose.

British Transport Police said, when interviewed the following day, Love told detectives he had been so drunk he could not remember what had happened.

Speaking outside court, Det Con Bevan added: "This was an intimidating and frightening experience for the victim, who was simply trying to make his way home after work.

"Love's threatening behaviour was bad enough, but his actions were made all the worse by his threats to stab the victim, leaving him fearing for his safety and with no option but to hand over his cycle."