A young thug who put a pistol to the head of a schoolboy and robbed him of a mobile phone has been jailed for three years.

Francis Egerton put the weapon, which he insists was a BB gun, to the temple of the 15-year-old boy during the night time attack in Lydiard Park.

And the 18-year-old, fuelled by cannabis and drink, launched the attack just weeks after magistrates put him on a community order for another violent robbery.

Ian Fenny, prosecuting, told Swindon crown court how the young victim had been in the park with a number friends on Friday October 12 last year.

Although they had been drinking he said there was no suggesting any of them were drunk or out of control.

He said a second group of youths, including Egerton, arrived and approached them at to the children's play park area.

Egerton at first spoke pleasantly to the victim but soon after squared up to him and demanded he hand over the phone.

The youngster refused so Egerton produced a pistol from his pocket and put it to the boy's temple.

Mr Fenny said the terrified teen handed over the phone and was heard to say "donít hurt me" as the gun was at his head.

One of girls in the victim's group, who actually owned the stolen phone, then approached Egerton to ask for her mobile back.

"As she tried to wrest the phone from his grasp he pulled it away from her taunting her and teasing her," he said.

"He then got the BB gun out again and pointed it in her direction. Not surprisingly she backed off."

Meanwhile another mobile phone was also stolen from a handbag on the ground and one of the victim's friends was assaulted.

Mr Fenny said it was unclear who had committed those offences so no one had been charged.

However a number of people identified one of the people in Egerton's group and he and another told police what happened.

Egerton, of Manor Crescent, Moredon, pleaded guilty to robbery and possessing an imitation firearm at the time of committing the offence as well as possession of cannabis found when he was arrested.

The court heard that in September last year he was put on a community order for another violent robbery on a youth.

Rob Ross, defending, said his client realised he was facing a jail term and was horrified at what he had done.

Although the gun was never recovered he said he had told officers it was a ball bearing firing weapon, though the victim would not have known that.

He said Egerton had been smoking cannabis since he was thirteen of fourteen years old and was getting through about £20 worth of skunk a day at the time of the offence.

Since he was remanded in custody two weeks ago he said he had not smoked drugs and was seeing life through a clear head.

He said he wanted to spend his time inside bettering himself so he can lead a good life with his partner and young child when he is released.

Jailing him Judge Douglas Field said "On October 12 last you were out with a group of young thugs intent on committing crimes and during the course of that evening you placed a BB pistol to the head of an adolescent teenager, only 15, and stole his mobile phone.

"He must have been very shaken indeed by that. The fact that you used that as a weapon and induced such fear in him is a very aggravating feature.

"Less than a month before that you were dealt with for another offence of robbery. You were given a community sentence which very quickly was rejected by you."

8:25am Thursday 22nd May 2008

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