A MASKED machete-wielding robber who stole a car from a terrified driver and caused a head-on crash in Worcester city centre has been locked up.

Jordan Timby, aged 20, threatened a terrified driver at knifepoint before speeding off in their 13-year-old "runaround" car and smashing head-on into another car in Sidbury, injuring the family inside, flattening a bollard and blocking the footpath with debris.

Timby, of Stanley Road, Worcester, had his hood up, was wearing a bandana around his face and sunglasses, and was accompanied by his dog when he approached an unsuspecting driver in the Hill Street car park at Tallow Hill, in Worcester, on the afternoon of Sunday, May 8, this year, Worcester Crown Court heard.

He opened up the passenger of the Ford Ka owned by unsuspecting Graham Green and shouted "get out of the car or I will cut you" as he jabbed the machete's 24-inch blade towards his throat, said Blondelle Thompson, prosecuting.

"He was terrified," she said.

Mr Green got out and suggested the robber could take some of the £45 worth of shopping from the boot but then he saw two passersby and called out, "please help, I'm being mugged."

Timby got in and reversed the car and drove off at speed, Miss Thompson said.

A short time later, he was driving in Sidbury when he mounted the central reservation, crossed over to the opposite carriageway and crashed into a Vauxhall Corsa being driven by Helen Bradley with her husband as a passenger and her two children aged six and three in the back.

"The crash was so severe the airbags were ignited," Miss Thompson said. "The children in the back were screaming."

The Corsa, worth between £2,000 and £6,000 was written off and the passengers suffered minor injuries.

The Worcester News reported at the time how a lane of the road was closed off, causing tailbacks, while the footpath outside Skellerns Motorcycles was partially blocked by the Ford Ka and debris strewn from the crash.

When police arrived at about 3.30pm, Timby told them he had just bought the Ka for £350.

The machete and the dog, a Staffordshire bull terrier cross breed, were found inside.

Timby appeared for sentencing over video link from prison. He pleaded guilty to robbery, having an offensive weapon in public, dangerous driving and having no licence or insurance.

Lee Marklew, defending, said it was not an offence of carjacking, in which high performance vehicles are targeted as the Ka was a 13 year old "runaround" worth about £1,200.

"It was more a badly planned robbery," he said. "He had his dog with him."

Mr Marklew said Timby had not driven far and was deeply sorry that innocent people were hurt. Timby had a number of previous convictions but had a new partner and had kept out of trouble for two years, Mr Marklew said.

Judge Nicolas Cartwright gave him a total of 43 months in a young offenders institution. He was also given a 12-month driving ban and will have to take an extended re-test.