A JUDGE told a youth to take stock of his life after he appeared in court for breaching an order made after he was convicted of robbery.

The 16-year-old, from Darlington, who cannot be named, was with three friends when he punched a girl in the stomach in Northgate, in the town, and stole her mobile phone.

The girl's boyfriend was also punched by all four youths after he went to his partner's aid, Teesside Crown Court was told.

The boy appeared in court to be sentenced for breaching a supervision order imposed in August last year for the robbery offence.

Christine Egerton, representing the probation service, said the youth had failed to attend appointments required made under the order.

Judge Peter Armstrong said: "You are only 16 years of age but you are building up more and more of a criminal record.

"You have to take stock of your life before it is too late."

The court heard the defendant had committed two more offences since his supervision order was imposed and was currently in custody.

Mrs Egerton said he had been sentenced to four months detention on April 19 after committing racially aggravated criminal damage on November 8.

He had previously been sent to a young offenders institution for four months for an offence of allowing himself to be carried in a stolen vehicle and was released in February.

The youngster had breached his order by not going to school twice and not attending appointments with probation officers and was fined £20 at Darlington youth court.

The boy will be detained for four months for the breach.