A teenager robbed another youth of his expensive mountain bike after threatening him with a screwdriver pressed to his neck, a court was told.

Thomas Price, who received a detention and training order (dto) for a similar crime as a juvenile offender, has now spent his first time in an adult custodial environment on remand awaiting sentence for his latest robbery.

Durham Crown Court heard that 18-year-old Price approached the other youth, who was sitting on his bike, using his phone, on a street in Spennymoor, at 10.50pm on July 14, last year.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said the teenager on the bike recognised Price and was later able to name him.

Read more: Man jailed for robberies at County Durham filling station and college

Price asked him what the time was, then immediately produced a screw driver, pressing it towards the other youth’s stomach, piercing his body-warmer.

He told the other youth to get off his bike, warning him he would be stabbed otherwise, but when he refused, Price pressed the screw driver against his neck.

Asked by the victim if he was really going to take his bike, Price confirmed it, taking it and cycling off towards the high street.

Mr Towers said the bike was worth £2,500 having been modified by the owner.

In his impact statement, the victim said he was scared at Price’s threats, but he was angry and confused as he was not expecting something like that to happen.

He said his bike was traced being offered online, via the Facebook Market Place site, and he was able to retrieve it, at a cost of £600.

The victim also said he was worried what might happen to him when the defendant is released from prison, in case he came across him inadvertently.

Mr Towers said when later arrested, Price presented a prepared statement challenging the identification of him, but after that made no comment.

He denied robbery and possessing an offensive weapon at a court appearance, on October 7, but gave notification of a change of plea to guilty to both offences in early November.

Read more: Durham City robbery saw man point knife at victims throat

The court was told 18-year-old Price, of Orchard Street, Pelton, has a record featuring 91 previous offences, initially mainly for “low end” crimes.

But, Mr Towers said he did have a similar conviction, for robbery and possessing an offensive weapon, in March 2020, for which he received a 28-month dto.

He has received further dto sentences in April 2021 and January last year for offences including burglary, common assault and dangerous driving and was still subject to licence supervision at the time of his latest offence.

Jonathan Walker, in mitigation, mentioned a letter written by the defendant from custody in which he expressed his “real remorse” and he said his client had asked him to apologise to the victim in court.

Addressing the court by video link from HMP Durham, where he has been on remand, Price repeated his apology and said he had grown up a lot while at the prison, where he said he has spent sleepless nights thinking about the effect of what he did on the victim.

Read next:

               County Durham burglar hit by car minutes after terrorising Peterlee woman

               Spennymoor man in court after five homes targeted in burglary spree

               Cases of five people before court in Durham in recent days

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He blamed the drink he had consumed for his actions on the night of the robbery.

Judge Jo Kidd said she had drawn back from passing an extended sentence on the defendant, which she could have done, but she said it was clear his previous sentences had not worked in deterring him from further offending.

Imposing a 34-month custodial sentence, she also put in place a restraining order prohibiting him from approaching or contacting his latest robbery victim, for ten years.