A Teenager who robbed bus drivers at knife-point has been jailed for ten months, writes Nick Evans.

Sentencing the youth at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, Judge Anthony King said he had been lenient because the boy claimed he had been forced into carrying out the robberies.

Paul Reid, prosecuting, told the court that the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had robbed two bus drivers in October.

On both occasions he wore a red bandana to disguise his face and carried a knife with an 8in blade.

The youth had earlier pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery and one of attempted robbery. The first incident happened on the 7A bus travelling from Kidlington to Headington, said Mr Reid. As the driver slowed to pick up a passenger on the Banbury Road, the youth jumped on and demanded that the driver hand over cash. He escaped with £30 and the driver's mobile phone.

The second robbery happened the following night when the teenager tried to rob a driver on the 52 route to Blackbird Leys.

On this occasion the driver escaped by braking suddenly, throwing the boy through the doors of the bus.

Jonathan Coode, defending, said the 16-year-old had been threatened by "friends" if he did not go through with the crimes. He added that he had tried to escape from those threatening him and go to the police. Judge King said the robberies were a grave offence that could only merit a custodial sentence.

He added: "On two successive days you robbed at knife-point people in vulnerable positions trying to do their jobs to help the community."

Story date: Monday 07 February

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