TWO teenagers who robbed fellow youngsters in the street were locked up yesterday.

Simon Lewins and a 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, went out on an evening in February and tried to rob a 16-year-old boy as he walked home from work.

Minutes later, they robbed another boy at a bus stop.

Yesterday, Lewins, 19, of Shildon Street, Darlington, and the 16-year-old appeared before Teesside Crown Court.

Lewins admitted attempted robbery and two offences of robbery. The 16-year-old youth admitted attempted robbery and one offence of robbery.

Judge Tony Briggs sentenced Lewins to 21 months in a young offenders' institution and sentenced the 16-year-old youth to 18 months.

Ian Skelt, prosecuting, said in the first attempted robbery, on February 21, there were three youths involved. One of them had a knife, but it was not clear which one.

The following day, Lewins committed a second robbery, taking a wristwatch from a 16-year-old boy walking home from school, said Mr Skelt.

Rod Hunt, for Lewins, said both of the accused had acted in an immature, childish and bullying manner.

The younger boy had boasted to Lewins about committing similar offences, and Lewins had been impressed, so they had gone out on a bullying expedition.

Mr Hunt said Lewins had no real understanding of how serious that would be, or how upsetting and frightening.

Mark Stiles, for the other youth, said he had suffered a brain injury, probably at an early age, which caused him difficulties at school.

He has been the target of bullying himself