A 15-year-old robbery victim fled in his underpants from a street mugger who stole his mobile phones and clothes, a court heard.
The incident happened after Joshua Anthony began chatting and smoking a cigarette with the victim in the city centre.
Ben Gow, prosecuting, said the pair went down an underpass near a church on Burleys Way at about 10.30pm on October 7.
He added: "The young man was seen running away from the underpass in his underwear; his clothing having been taken.
"He says the defendant punched him in the face, hitting him around the right eye causing him to fall to the floor."
The defendant repeatedly punched him demanding the bag he was carrying and three mobile phones.
The victim put his arms up to protect his head, whilst Anthony, 23, threatened: "I'll cut your throat, I'll leave you for dead."
Although no knife was produced.
Mr Gow told Leicester Crown Court: "The defendant pulled his jacket, jumper, shirt, trainers and jeans off, leaving him in his boxer shorts.
"When arrested, Anthony was still carrying the clothing.
"The victim had a large swelling to the right side of his face, around his right eye, which was entirely closed and he couldn't see out of it."
Anthony, of Eastway Road, Wigston, admitted the robbery and was jailed for three years.
Recorder Arian Reynolds said: "It's the third time you've been convicted of robbery.
"On this occasion you humiliated your victim by removing all his clothes so he had to run off in underwear.
"It was a despicable way to behave."
Sally Bamford, mitigating, said Anthony was suffering emotional and mental health difficulties at the time.
She added: "He's at a loss to explain himself.
"He didn't feel right and had suffered a breakdown.
"However, he says the meeting with this teenager was pre-arranged and drugs were the reason they got together.
"He can't say why events took such a bizarre turn."
