Teenager, 19, detained for street robbery

10:10pm Friday 4th July 2008

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A Blackpool teenager who carried out a street mugging in the resort had convictions for four previous robbery offences, a court has heard.

John Eichner, 19, put his victim in a headlock while a second man demanded "Give me your money, phone and wallet".

The youngster had been forced down an alley by a friend of Eichner while they were all heading away from the town centre in the small hours.

The defendant had done four other street robberies in the past.

His last such sentence in January last year had involved a case where Eichner put a 22 year old man in a headlock and threatened to stick a knife in him, before being handed ten to fifteen pounds cash.

The teenager of Egerton Road, Blackpool, was sentenced to two years detention for robbery when he appeared at Preston Crown Court today.

Miss Kirsten McAteer, prosecuting, said the 17 year old victim had been for a night out in the town centre with friends and was walking home around 1am last Novemer.

He made his way along Talbot Road and was approached by two young men who seemed quite friendly.

The victim agreed to nip into a garage shop to buy cigarettes for one of them and was given a £5 note.

Later on he was walking with the two men when he was forced down an alleyway.

CCTV footage at the garage enabled police to recognise Eichner.

Details of his four previous robbery sentences were read to the court.

In November 2004, Eichner, then 15, was dealt with for taking £2.80 loose change from his victim.

In July the following year, he was sentenced for snatching a mobile phone from a young man going to work. In October 2006, while 17, Eichner was sentenced for being part of a group who surrounded a 16 year old youth.

A wallet was forced from the youngster's hand.

Then in January last year, he and another man approached the victim on Talbot Road, demanding money. Various detention and training orders had been imposed on him in the past.

Mr Chris Hudson, defending, said fortunately no significant long term injury had resulted from the offence.

Eichner had had a terrible upbringing and took drink and drugs and offended to finance that.