A robber has been jailed after he sprayed his victims with an unknown substance and demanded their property, before reaching into his waistband and saying “it’s knife time”.

Luke Rox, 30, targeted the couple in High Street, St Neots, as they returned from a night out at about 2am on October 2 last year.

The male victim punched him in the face, causing his nose to bleed over his coat.

Rox made his escape but the incident was reported to police and the blood was found to be a direct DNA match for him.

While Rox was wanted for the robbery, he assaulted a woman at a property in Huntingdon on March 7 this year. He also damaged her property and took her mobile phone.

The Hunts Post: Luke Rox, of Florida Avenue, Hartford, has been jailed for robbing a couple in High Street, St Neots.Luke Rox, of Florida Avenue, Hartford, has been jailed for robbing a couple in High Street, St Neots. (Image: Cambridgeshire Constabulary)

Rox, of Florida Avenue, Hartford, was arrested and later pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, assault causing actually bodily harm, criminal damage and theft.

He was sentenced at Cambridge Crown Court to four years and seven months in prison.

DC James Lewis said: “The victim bravely fought back in self-defence and his actions ultimately led to us linking Rox to the crime.”