A TEENAGER who broke a man's cheek bone in a violent bid to steal hundreds of pounds his victim had won while gambling has been spared jail.

Nathan Surman-Gascoyne carried out the 'mean-spirited' robbery after his victim asked him to go and get some cannabis.

The 18-year-old of Churchill Crescent, Thame had already admitted one count of robbery.

He was sentenced for that offence at Oxford Crown Court on Thursday.

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Outlining the case prosecutor Nigel Ogborne said the robbery took place in Thame on October 6 last year, when Surman-Gascoyne was just 17.

The victim had been at a Coral bookmakers playing the gambling machines when he came out with a 'considerable sum of money.'

Having spent a portion of it he had £525 left in his bag.

The man decided he wanted to buy some cannabis and he went with Surman-Gascoyne to buy drugs in Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire.

On returning to Thame prosecutors said that Surman-Gascoyne then realised that the hundreds of pounds was in his eventual victim's bag.

They went to the town's Recreation Ground where Surman-Gascoyne asked his victim to go behind a shed, ostensibly to exchange drugs.

It was there that the robbery took place.

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Surman-Gascoyne punched the man 'square in the face' using so much force that he broke his victim's left cheek bone.

He said to his victim during the attack 'you better give me the bag, it's the best thing for you.'

He continued to punch the man during the robbery before he ran off.

As a result of his injuries the victim had to have an operation under general anaesthetic in hospital.

In mitigation Peter Du Feu, defending, said that his client had described the incident as 'the most horrible thing I could have done to someone.'

Sentencing, Judge Ian Pringle QC called the robbery 'mean-spirited' and said that the injury sustained was 'serious.'

He said he would order a jail term for Surman-Gascoyne but it was a sentence of imprisonment which he could suspend.

He added: "I think you do genuinely see how badly you behaved on that occasion.

"I think you are growing up very quickly."

Surman-Gascoyne was handed a 16-month jail term, suspended for two years, and he must complete 25 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

He must also pay compensation to his victim totalling £525 and a statutory victim surcharge.