A ROBBER who held a replica gun to a students' head was spared jail yesterday.

Gavin Wudinge, 18, said he was playing cowboys when he forced his victim to his knees and ordered him to hand over cash, a mobile phone and cigarettes.

The 18-year-old told police that it had all been "a lark" and that he had never intended to harm Greek national Panagiotis Chapazis.

He claimed Mr Chapazis, 25, thrust his property at him, saying: "I'm Greek - don't shoot me."

Last month, a jury at Teesside Crown Court found Wudinge guilty of the robbery, on October 11, last year.

Paul Cleasby, prosecuting, said the student had been terrified but later identified Wudinge to police.

Wudinge said he had been drunk, adding: "I didn't want his property. I told him it was a toy gun and I didn't want anything from him."

Wudinge, of Kelvin Grove, Middlesbrough, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced. He was given three years' community rehabilitation, 100 hours community punishment and a six-month curfew and electronic tagging order.