Published: Sunday, 14th March, 2010 12:00pm

Teens detained for savage knife robbery

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TWO teenage yobs have been given detention orders after they savagely robbed a 12-year-old at knifepoint in Britwell.

The sixteen-year-olds, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were only 15 when they attacked the boy in Kennedy Park and stole his mini-motorbike and £2.

A jury ar Reading Crown Court convicted the unruly pair of robbery after hearing how they knocked their victim off his bike, before pinning him to the ground and threatening him with a knife while kicking him several times.

Passing down the sentence, Judge Gordon Risius CB, said: "Mercifully his physical injuries were not serious but the psychological effects on this young boy, who claims to have offered you both a go on his mini-motorbike, are likely to be long-lasting."

Judge Risius sentenced the first defendant, who had eight previous convictions including arson ,to three years' detention for the robbery and admitting breaching an Asbo banning him from the park.

He added: "You have shown no remorse for your actions. No matter what their background or age, anyone who arms himself with a knife then uses it to rob and then puts the book in against the victim for good measure must realise that it will inevitably lead to a loss of liberty. The victim's age makes it worse."

At least half of the sentence - minus 170 days for time he had already spent in custody - must be served before he can be released on licence.

The second defendant was given an 18 month detention and training order, at least half of which must be spent in custody before he can be released on licence.

The incident took place in September last year.