Two teenagers involved in a street robbery in the centre of Gloucester more than a year ago have been sentenced at the Gloucester Crown Court - one to a year in custody while the other kept his freedom.

Two other younger teens who were the main offenders have been sentenced separately by a youth court because of their ages.

Prosecutor Caitlin Evans told the Crown Court on Monday (January 15) that the four youths were hanging around the city centre during the early hours of December 10, 2022, when they approached Richard Murphy who had just purchased some food from a takeaway outlet in Southgate Street shortly before 2.30am.

"Mr Murphy says three of the youths were wearing balaclavas, with one of them sporting a big red handkerchief," the prosecutor said.

"The first male was the most aggressive of the four. He asked Mr Murphy if he had any drugs on him. Mr Murphy told him that he didn't, and he tried to ignore them.

"Another of them told Mr Murphy that there was no point in trying to run off because they would 'ching' him - which is slang for stabbing somebody with a knife.

"The same youth told Mr Murphy that they were anti-drug campaigners and that he needed to be searched. Mr Murphy didn't believe them when the second youth carried out a search of his pockets and pulled out a wallet and some airpods.

"At this point the two older defendants, Jakub Lorynski of Hatherley Lane, Cheltenham - but formerly of Emerald close, Tuffley - and Kyron Butts of Churchill Road, Gloucester, were stood well back from what was going on.

"One of the youths grabbed the takeaway and started eating the food. The youths then disposed some of the contents of Mr Murphys wallet in a nearby graveyard. The four youths then allowed Mr Murphy to leave.

"Mr Murphy immediately phoned the police and the four youths were arrested within half an hour. The wallet and airpods were recovered from the two younger youths."

The court was told that both Lorynski and Butts' physical involvement with the robbery had been superficial but they had been charged as it was a joint enterprise between them.

The court heard that the robbery has had some long-lasting effect on the victim who is now reluctant about going out late at night by himself.

Matthew Harbinson for Lorynski said: "He has a number of issues, which includes his mental health. I have a letter from those providing his accommodation about the state of his mental health.

"It was clearly a spur of a moment by one of the other youths. They may have been wearing face coverings because of the cold.

"Lorynski and Butts were not the prime movers, but both accept that they were present. Lorynski sought to distance himself from the others when Mr Murphy was being challenged. There were no weapons produced during this incident.

"Lorynski has had an unfortunate upbringing as he was placed into the care of the local authority and fell in with the wrong company.

"His co-defendant youths have been sentenced to a referral order at the youth court, but because of his age he is being sentenced at this court."

Sarah Jenkins for Butts said he accepted being present but was not responsible for the actual robbery.

"He is a vulnerable person who has been the victim of a crime himself," she said.

"He has shown significant remorse and at the time of his offending, he lacked maturity. He has since found proper employment."

Both Lorynski and Butts admitted robbing Mr Murphy of a wallet at airpods on December 10, 2022.

The court was told that Lorynski had also breached his police bail conditions by committing this offence.

Judge Rupert Lowe told Lorynski that with a heavy heart he had to send him to a young offenders institution for a year because of his record of previous offending.

In sentencing Butts to a 24 month community sentence the judge ordered that he complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days and undertake 100 hours of unpaid work.