18 months for phone robberBy Chigwell GuardianMOBILE phone robbers targeted school children in Chigwell, a court heard. In one incident outside West Hatch High School, a 14-year-old boy was punched in the face before being robbed of his phone. Reece Peach, 19, of Rodney Place, Walthamstow, pleaded guilty to two charges of robbery and was sentenced to 18 months in a young offenders institution. A 17-year-old youth admitted one charge of robbery and was made the subject of an 18-month detention and training order. Another 17-year-old youth admitted dishonestly handling a mobile phone stolen in one of the robberies. He was made the subject of a 12-month community rehabilitation order and ordered to do 50 hours community service. Matthew Holdcroft, prosecuting at Chelmsford Crown Court, said the three robberies took place on January 29 and the victims were all schoolboys wearing school uniforms. A 14-year-old boy was outside West Hatch High School at 3.50pm when he was approached by four youths. He was punched in the face and his mobile phone was forced out of his hands. About an hour later two 14-year-old schoolboys were approached at a bus stop at Brook Parade by a group of youths. One of the youths started going through the blazer pockets of one of the schoolboys. He said "what are you doing?" and was headbutted in the face. He did not have a mobile phone but a Sony Walkman was taken out of his pocket. The other 14-year-old was frisked and a mobile phone was taken from him, said Mr Holdcroft. Police were given a description of a Ford Granada car which the youths made off in and the vehicle was later stopped in Walthamstow. Peach, who was in the driving seat, had a Sony Walkman in his pocket and police also recovered from the vehicle the two stolen mobile phones. Roy Brown, mitigating, said Peach acted out of character and was deeply ashamed. He came from an admirable family who were shocked and devastated at what he had done. Judge Marie Catterson said: "Street robbery is far too serious to be dealt with any other way than an immediate custodial sentence." 12:03 Thursday 1st August 2002
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