Teen robbed boy, 15, of gold necklace in street

Zak Ivory-Lewis was sentenced at Durham Crown Court

A teenager who punched a 15-year-old boy and stole his necklace during a knifepoint robbery has been detained for 16 months.

Zak Ivory-Lewis, 18, was part of a gang of youths who surrounded the boy and robbed him in a street in Stockton in March, Durham Crown Court court heard.

The victim, who had a knife held to his stomach and was also robbed of his watch, said he now feared leaving his house.

Ivory-Lewis, who was 17 at the time but turned 18 weeks later, admitted robbery.

The victim and his friends were ambushed outside a corner shop at about 17:00 BST on 23 March by Ivory-Lewis and three accomplices, prosecutor Rachel Butt said.

While the boy removed his watch as a sharp knife was held against his stomach by one of the attackers, Ivory-Lewis punched him in the head and pulled his gold necklace over his head, the court heard.

Ivory-Lewis, who had previous convictions for offences including supplying cocaine, theft and aggravated vehicle taking, was recognised from CCTV by police, Ms Butt said.

'Safer in prison'

Neither the watch or necklace were recovered, the court heard.

In a statement read to the court, the boy said it should have been a "normal day" but "turned into something traumatic" that left him "feeling scared and constantly on edge".

He said he no longer felt safe to go out because he felt "anxious and vulnerable".

In mitigation, Nicci Horton said Ivory-Lewis was under the influence of drugs at the time but, while on remand in HMP Holme House, had got himself clean.

She said he had also been isolated from the people he had been hanging around with at the time.

Judge Joanne Kidd said Ivory-Lewis, of Mendip Road in Billingham, was "probably safer" and had a "lower risk of reoffending" in prison.

Had he been an adult at the time of the robbery he could have been jailed for four years, but that was reduced due to his age and credit for a guilty plea.

A restraining order banning Ivory-Lewis from contacting the victim was also made to last for 10 for years.