THREE teenagers, who subjected another to a vicious attack in order to steal his £200 neck chain, yesterday had their sentences reduced at London's Criminal Appeal Court.

Thomas Anderson, 19, of Houghton-le-Spring, was convicted of robbery at Durham Youth Court in March and sent to a young offenders' institution for four years.

A 17-year-old youth from Hetton-le-Hole and a 16-year-old from Houghton-le-Spring, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, received four-year sentences for the same offence.

Mr Justice Hooper reduced all the youths' sentences to three years, after ruling the original terms were "manifestly excessive".

In May 1999, a 17-year-old youth was set upon by three youths, who knocked him to the ground and punched and kicked him before taking his £200 chain and £15.

The judge at Durham rightly observed the concern that the courts and public feel about these sorts of offences, said Mr Justice Hooper.

However, he added: "We take the view that the judge gave insufficient credit to the fact of their ages, the fact that it was their first custodial sentences, and the consequences of sending them to detention for that length of time, and the fact that there was no weapon and it was apparently unpremeditated."