A 15-YEAR-OLD boy who took part in three Newport street robberies has been detained.

Jamie Garwood, who committed the offences while he was homeless, appeared before Newport crown court.

Judge Roderick Denyer sentenced Garwood to an 18-month detention and training order for the three robberies, to which he pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.

Judge Denyer said: "There is a high level of public concern about street robbery, particularly when the victims are young and the offenders are acting mob-handed.

"I am satisfied these offences are so serious you have to be locked up.

"If you were an adult I would contemplate a sentence of four years' custody."

Andrew Morse, prosecuting, said Garwood was in Aberthaw Road, Newport, with three others on June 5 when he robbed 14-year-old Richard Turner of a video camera and DVDs worth a total of 400.

Mr Morse said: "The victim tried to grab the camera back and was punched to the side of the face."

During another incident on June 17, Garwood was with others when he robbed 13-year-old Christopher Haynes of his bus fare, and robbed Christopher May, aged 16, of a 250 mobile phone.

He said Garside was later identified because of a distinctive tattoo on his neck.

The court heard Garwood, now of a children's home in Gloucester, had previous convictions for dwelling house burglary, criminal damage and assault.