Two teenagers who terrorised another youth into handing over cash and his mobile phone have been ordered to serve periods of detention.

Judge Anthony King told the pair he had little choice but to impose a custodial sentence following the "extremely frightening episode" in Between Towns Road, Cowley, in which a pizza shop employee was pushed against a wall and frisked. Appearing before him for sentence at Oxford Crown Court were Malachi Charles, 18, of Catwell Close, Cowley, and his 17-year-old accomplice, who were both convicted of robbery on May 23.

The younger defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had earlier pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody at Oxford Magistrates' Court on December 21. Reginald Arkhurst, prosecuting, said the youth had escaped after jumping from the dock. He had been in custody since December 8 over an allegation of common assault dating back to the previous August.

Jonathan Coode, defending the youth, said he had jumped the dock to be with his family over Christmas and the New Year and was not at liberty very long.

Judge King sentenced Charles to 30 months' youth detention but suspended half of it. The youth was ordered to serve a period of 12 month's detention and training imposed under the Government's Crime and Disorder Act of 1998. Judge King said he had "no other alternative" but had taken into account the seven months he had already spent in custody.