A teenager described as a future international sports star held a knife to the neck of one of his victims during a series of robberies.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, threatened four boys with a craft knife at Christ Church Meadow, in Oxford, last September.

Oxford Crown Court heard today the boy had played for an England schools team and could have a promising career ahead of him.

Jonathan Coode, defending, said the teenager's father died when he was only two.

He was expelled from school about a year ago and was effectively left to roam the streets, Mr Coode added.

Judge Christopher Compston said the boy deserved to get a custodial sentence but instead placed him under a supervision order, adding that he was a victim of society.

The judge told him: "Although you're to blame for this (robberies), so is society. You haven't had a father and that's not your fault, nor your mother's.

"But you have not had any education for between nine and 11 months.

"The education authorities should have found you and looked after you. You have been chronically let down by the education system."

Jonathan Stone, prosecuting, said the boy approached a group of teenagers in the meadow and pulled out the knife.

He held it against one boy's throat until he handed over a £10 note. The blade was then pointed at the group and three more boys handed over £5 each, added Mr Stone. He said: "All were very scared."

The teenager also asked for another robbery, in Pembroke Street, Oxford, in January last year, to be taken into account during sentencing.

Mr Coode told the court his client was an intelligent boy who had read 20 books since being placed in a youth detention centre four months ago, after admitting the robberies.

He said: "He's a fantastically talented player.

"He was in the England international team and that's no mean feat. If he keeps that up, he could have a career in his sport."

Judge Compston refused a request from the Oxford Mail to lift restrictions on the boy's identity.

He released the boy from custody and imposed a two-year supervision order.

He said: "Let me make it clear to you I'm making an exception.

"The next judge who sentences you will probably sentence you for as long as he can.

"As you get older, you're looking at many years in jail if anything occurs again.

"The offences were terrifying and disgraceful, particularly as you used a weapon. Some would rightly detain you not for months but for years - but I am not going to."

He said he had taken into account the guilty plea and the four months the boy had spent in custody.