A TEENAGER went out looking for someone to mug after getting into debt with his drug suppliers, a court heard.

Anthony Evans armed himself with a plank of wood and picked on a 13-year-old in Stockton town centre and stole his mobile phone.

Evans, 18, was traced by his victim through Facebook with the help of a witness, and he was yesterday jailed for 20 months.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton, QC, told him: "You went out to deliberately to find someone you could rob because you were in debt.

"Being in debt to the extent you were at the age of 18 is a sorrowful thing to have to recount."

Evans, of Whitby Street, Hartlepool, admitted the May 9 robbery at an earlier hearing at Teesside Crown Court.

His lawyer Andrew White said the teenager had a troubled childhood, blighted by drugs in the family, and his father took his own life last year.

He said Evans has since sought help for his own drug and alcohol problems, and admitted he was "disgusted" by the mugging.

Mr White said the teenager was terrified of going to prison.

"He was being threatened by drug dealers 'either get some money or face the consequences," he said.

"He was a frightened, desperate young man, but he realises now he made the wrong decision and deeply regrets it."

Judge Bourne-Arton said: "You have made a conscious decision to try to seek help, and I am impressed by that."