TWO young men facing prison for robbery have been given a chance to work with the probation service before being sentenced.

Elliott Wood and Macauley Owen were charged with robbery after a teenage boy was wrestled to the ground and punched before his coat was stolen.

The incident happened around 1.25pm on Saturday, April 10, on a footpath along the rear of the store on Thistle Rise in Coulby Newham.

Adam Walker, representing 19-year-old Wood, called on Judge Howard Crowson to give his client another chance to engage with a pre-sentence report while he was on remand for the robbery.

Wood’s co-accused 23-year-old Owen had been on bail throughout proceedings but also failed to engage with the probation service, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Judge Crowson adjourned sentencing until September 1 to give both defendants the opportunity to get a pre-sentence report.

Addressing Wood, of Coniston Grove, Middlesbrough, he said: “A report may well help you and I am going to give you another chance.

"You are still young and although you do seem to have a lot of appearances before a court they are mainly for breaches of the same order."

Speaking to Owen, of Fairfax Court, Hemlington, Middlesbrough, the judge told him that 'having a problem' isn't always enough to keep him out of prison.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054