A TEENAGER carried out two street robberies on consecutive days within a fortnight of his release from custody, a court heard yesterday.

David Young, 17, appeared before Durham Crown Court and admitted a charge of robbery on June 8.

The court was told that Young got out of a car and approached a young man who was making his way home after a night out in Darlington town centre.

Anne Richardson, prosecuting, said that Young punched the man in the face and demanded money.

He told his victim: "I'll use my knife".

He then took a wallet worth £30, containing £15 in cash, bank cards and other personal documents.

Miss Richardson said the victim believed other people in the car had taken part in the theft.

However, when he was arrested, Young, of Haughton Road, Darlington, said he was the only one involved in the incident.

He told police he had hit his victim twice, but said that he only escaped with £10.

Miss Richardson said Young had a sorry history for someone of his age, having already served previous sentences, the longest of which was for three years.

Jamie Hill, for Young, said he had only been released from the three-year sentence on May 30.

The court heard that Young had committed a similar robbery the day before he committed the one in Darlington town centre.

He is currently serving an 18-month detention and training order imposed on him in July, for robbery, possessing a bladed article in public and two attempted vehicle thefts on June 7.

Mr Hill said that Young, who had experienced "a fairly rotten early life", had been frank with the police when he had been arrested and interviewed about his latest crimes.

He also said it would have been preferable had Young been sentenced for both the June offences at the same time.

Judge Richard Lowden imposed a further 18-month detention and training order on Young, to run alongside the existing sentence.

He said it would have been unjust to make the sentence consecutive.