A robber who threatened to stab his victim's dog after forcing his way into his Leeds home has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

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Prolific criminal Nathan Drake, 21, carried out the attack while out on licence from prison for a string of serious offences.

Drake targeted a house on Cardinal Road, Beeston, on October 4 last year armed with a carving knife.

Richard Wright, prosecuting, told Leeds Crown Court how Drake forced his way in and demanded money. He threatened to stab the owner before threatening to stab his dog.

Drake ran off with a laptop but police found him hiding in a garden around 15 minutes later.

Mr Wright said Drake, of no fixed address, was returned to prison. He was out on licence for a sentence that is not due to be completed until July 2011.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated robbery and having an offensive weapon.

The court heard how Drake has previous convictions for burglary, robbery, threatening behaviour and drugs offences dating back to 2001.

He was given a five-year sentence in 2006.

James Lake, mitigating, said Drake's offending began in 2001, the same

year his mother "tragically and suddenly" died. His relationship with his father disintegrated due to him finding another partner.