A TEENAGE robber who mugged a lad with heart problems of £2 to try and impress his criminal mates has been given a chance by a judge.

William Price brandished a piece of metal piping when he demanded Luke West, 19, hand over his mobile phone, headphones and wallet, but he refused to give them up.

The skinny 18-year-old then asked if he had any cash and, fearing he may get hit by the iron bar, he pulled out two £1 coins from his pocket and gave him one of them.

Price went back to the car he had got out of, only to return seconds later to demand the other coin from his victim, who was suffering palpitations, before making off.

But after hearing the defendant, from Royal Wootton Basset, was immature and needing help a judge at Swindon Crown Court imposed a suspended sentence.

Hannah Squire, prosecuting, said Mr West was walking along London Road, Devizes, just before 6am on Saturday, April 4, when a dark Audi pulled up.

She said he was wearing a new set of headphones so didn't hear exactly what Price initially said as he approached him in an aggressive manner.

"He noticed he was holding a metal bar which was like a bit of water pipe. He said 'Give me your phone and wallet'," she said.

"He said he have any money as he paid for everything by card. He then said 'Hand over your headphones'.

"Mr West, showing a degree of spirit, as he had only had them a week refused to hand them over."

She said the victim them started feeling quite strong palpitations, as he had heart problems, and was bent over saying he had chest pains and to take it easy.

"Mr Price was talking quickly trying to hurry him along, not shouting but asking about valuables. Mr West only had £2.

"He gave him £1. He went to the car, turned round and demanded the other pound, took it and left."

But because Mr West had noted the number plate the police were able to track down the robber who admitted what he had done.

Price, of Old Court, pleaded guilty to a charge of robbery.

Rob Ross, defending, said when you meet his client you can easily see how the pre-sentence report talks about him trying to impress people he was with.

"The probation officer says this: that he clearly wished to increase his standing within a pro criminal peer group with whom, at the time, he was hanging around and he was 'trying to make his bones'," he said.

"He almost appears, from what he says, that he was embarrassed about what he was doing: 'Give me the phone', 'no'; 'give me the headphones', 'no'; give me some money'.

"It is almost he was trying to get back in the car with something to get it over with. He is clearly emotionally vulnerable and in order to not lose face he did this."

Passing sentence Judge Peter Blair QC said: "When I saw you come into court and I saw you smirking and grinning at the people in the public gallery I was not optimistic you would get anything but a period in a young offenders' institute and that would wipe the smile off your face.

"But I have come to the conclusion you are a fairly immature man and need some help from the probation to help you."

Telling him it was his 'last chance' he imposed a two-year jail term suspended for two years with a thinking skills programme and education training an employment course.