Tearaway teen gets five years

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was told by a judge: "The public will justifiably think you are a menace to society."

The robber, who was allegedly high on cocaine at the time, struck after following the 16-year-old victim from a bus on which both had travelled to Burnt Tree Island on Birmingham New Road in Oldbury at around 3.30pm on January 9, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The defendant and a second young man, who was never traced, trapped the victim in an alleyway when one stood in front and the other behind him, it was said.

The 17-year-old pulled a knife and threatened to 'shank' the frightened boy if he did not hand over his mobile phone, which, 'very sensibly,' he did, said Miss Heather Chamberlain, prosecuting.

The two robbers shouted as they ran off : "We have been following you for three days, know where you live and will kill you if you call the police."

The defendant was arrested after being recognised by police on film from a CCTV camera on the bus on which he and the victim had travelled from Dudley Street, West Bromwich, the court heard.

He had been locked up twice for robbery and robbed the 16 year old three months after being released from the last of these, revealed Miss Chamberlain.

Recorder Adrian Reynolds told him: "Because of your age I am required to consider your welfare as a main part of the sentencing process but that is difficulty when somebody has an antecedent history like yours. You have had a wretched life and are already showing signs of becoming institutionalised which is appalling but the public will justifiably think you are a menace to society. Hopefully you will grow up and see light at the end of the tunnel when there is still time to turn your life around."

The defendant was ordered to be detained in a secure unit.