A RYDE man has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after demanding money at knifepoint.

Kieran James Thompson, no stranger to the court with 12 previous convictions for 22 offences, admitted robbery and possession of a bladed article, namely a knife, on May 19, 2020.

He had originally denied the offences and the matter was set for trial, until Thompson changed his plea on June 14 to make admissions.

Thompson, 25, of High Park Square, had been in custody on remand.

Roderick Blain, prosecuting, told the court a man had arranged to buy some cannabis and meet a man called 'Rodney' in the car park of the Co-operative supermarket in Ryde.

Thompson turned up, on a motorbike or scooter, and allowed the man to smell the cannabis but not see it. Thompson then got off the bike and produced a knife, demanding money.

The man described the knife as having a 7" blade, and an independent witness, who saw the incident, said a 4" blade.

The victim ran off and threw some money at Thompson, who was swiftly arrested afterwards.

Mr Blain outlined Thompson's previous offences including two separate assaults on his former partner.

Graham Gilbert, defending Thompson, said he had a determination to address his behaviour and had shown remorse.

He said: "He is very keen to point out he's viewing his incarceration as a positive, a chance to rest the slide. Since he's been a remand prisoner he has been clean for six weeks, and wants to gain a qualification."

He said Thompson's offences were tied up with his mental health and things had started to go wrong when he was offered a table tennis scholarship at 17 but financial difficulties meant he couldn't take up the opportunity.

His first conviction followed that same year, in 2012.

He started taking 'gateway drugs' which led him to the path he is on today, Mr Gilbert said.

He said mental health services were concerned by his state of mind.

Judge David Melville said Thompson had "quite a collection" of convictions.

On jailing him, he said: "Drawing a knife on someone, demanding money, is a very serious offence. Taking cocaine worth £200 a day was a passport for disaster."