A thug who targeted homosexual men in Cranford Park, threatening them with violence and robbing them of cash, was today jailed for five years.

Erkan Halil, 29, who was living at Ledwood Avenue, Hayes, but has a family home in Goldhawk Rd, Shepherds Bush, was found guilty at a trial at Isleworth Crown Court last month, of two robberies on gay men in September and October last year.

Detective Constable Adam Lewis of the Uxbridge robbery unit, said today "We believe Halil specifically targeted the gay community because historically victims were unlikely to come forward and report such incidents."

Halil tried to flee the country and was arrested at Stansted Airport with a one-way ticket to Cyprus.

Judge Usha Karu told him: "You were convicted of two robberies on two men in Cranford Park in September and October last year. The jury rejected your account of being sexually assaulted by these men.

"It was patently obvious during your trial, that you were targeting homosexuals for the purpose of robbing them, taking advantage of their vulnerabilities."

Cranford Park is an area known to be frequented by gay men, prosecutor Edward Fenner told the week-long trial. He said victim Carl Brain, 33, was there on September 25, and went into the woods with Halil, who made a demand for money with threatening and intimidating comments.

Nine days later another man married with children and unwilling to be named was in the park. The 40 year-old also came across Halil and walked towards the woods with him. They were seen by park warden Brian McGillivray.

Mr Fenner said: "Halil demanded £20 from the man. He was forced to pull out some cash a £20 note and one for £10 which Halil took saying I have a knife and I'll stab you and kill you'."

Both victims told the jury they were scared by the incident, Mr Brain saying "I was absolutely terrified".

Halil was arrested four days later having been identified by the park warden. He denied robbing either man and claimed they had approached him for sex.

He repeated this story in court, asking why they should be afraid of him when "they go there to have sex with strangers".

His counsel, Jacqueline Vallejo, said Halil wished to apologise to his victims and now "accepts that for them this was not a pleasant experience".

She said he was taking courses while in prison and was anxious to "put all this behind him".