A KNIFE-WIELDING teenage robber who targeted foreign tourists in Oxford has been jailed for 27 months.

Carl Jameson, 17, had an 8in blade and threatened to stab his victims in a three-day spree in the city centre in July.

Oxford Crown Court heard Jameson – who has 22 convictions dating back to when he was 11 – targeted foreign tourists to pay off a violent drug dealer who threatened his father and the mother of his unborn child.

Judge Anthony King jailed Jameson at Oxford Crown Court yesterday, saying the teenager put his victims in extreme fear.

Det Sgt Matt Jarman said: “Jameson is a violent man and on each occasion used a knife to threaten his victims, putting them in fear of harm.

“He targeted people who were visiting the city and I hope this acts as a warning to any robbers in the Oxford area.

“This is a city that we will ensure is safe for those who work and live here and also for those who visit.”

Matthew Walsh, prosecuting, told the court a hooded Jameson robbed a Swedish couple in Merton Street at 7.40pm on July 26.

He said Jameson swore at the couple and demanded they handed over a camera.

Mr Walsh said: “The woman saw that he held a knife pointing at her with a blade about 8in long – and was understandably frightened.”

Jameson stole £20 and fled.

Two days later, Jameson used a knife to threaten an American couple having a picnic on Christ Church Meadow and demanded cash and their iPod.

Mr Walsh said: “He said he was going to stab them. He pointed to the knife and said ‘don’t think I won’t do it’.”

Two police community support officers heard a commotion and arrived at the scene.

Back-up was called and Jameson, who told officers he had swallowed 20 valium tablets, was arrested the taken to hospital, Mr Walsh added.

Jameson, of Friars Wharf, Oxford, admitted robbery and attempted robbery.

He also admitted an attempted knifepoint robbery on a tourist in High Street on July 27.

Mr Walsh told the court Jameson had 22 previous convictions, including arson, vandalism, drugs possession and violence.

Stephen Parker, defending, said Jameson needed cash to pay £350 to a Birmingham-based drug dealer.

He added: “Mr Jameson became more desperate and behaved in manner you’ve heard about.”

Judge King said: “Each of these offences were robberies at knifepoint.

“They were committed in daylight hours and the individuals concerned would have been put in extreme fear and extreme danger.

“You’ve built up quite a formidable record in the first 17 years of your life.”

Oxford Crown Court lifted reporting restrictions to allow us to print Jameson’s name.

His attacks occured around the same time as seven robberies on foreign students in Blackbird Leys and a hammer attack on a Canadian tourist in Little Clarendon Street, but were unconnected.