A teenager who mugged a man of his designer jacket has been spared jail - and ordered to pay his victim £250 compensation so he can buy a new one.

Scaffolder Calvin Smith, 19, confronted the victim and menacingly demanded "Give me your coat and you'll live" before punching him in the face, Canterbury Crown Court was told.

He then "ripped" the Trapstar puffer jacket from the man, who he knew, before fleeing on the back of a motorbike, while in Ashford.

When arrested two weeks later police found the black coat in his wardrobe.

But despite being told that he "could not complain" if he was locked up, Smith, of Oxford Road, Canterbury, was handed a suspended sentence on October 5.

Judge Simon James also allowed him four months in which to compensate his victim.

The court heard the man was walking along Beaver Road on October 16 last year when the motorcycle pulled onto the pavement and across his path.

Smith, who was riding pillion, got off and demanded h jacket.

"He said 'Give me your coat and you'll live'. The complainant walked down an alleyway to get away but was followed by the defendant and punched in the jaw," said prosecutor Donna Longcroft.

"The complainant walked even further down the alleyway but realised it was a dead-end and so began walking back.

"The motorbike was then used to block his path and push him up against the wall. The defendant pulled at the jacket arm and, out of fear of being assaulted further, the complainant took it off and handed it over.

"The defendant put it on and rode off on the motorbike with the other rider."

Ms Longcroft said police were alerted and Smith was arrested at home on October 29.

The victim, who also suffered a bruised jaw, was however unable to identify the second biker.

Smith later pleaded guilty to robbery.

Kerry Waitt, defending, told the court the teenager was 18 at the time and had been "encouraged and egged on" by his fellow biker.

Furthermore, the barrister added, Smith's lack of previous convictions was "commendable" given he had been in care since the age of five and fostered "at least" 14 times.

"He is a young man in need of support and encouragement as he matures into adulthood," said Mr Waitt.

Imposing a sentence of 18 months' custody suspended for 18 months, Judge James said he was taking what might be viewed as an "exceptional" course.

"I have decided to offer you a chance, an opportunity, not least because everybody deserves that one chance but, having read all that I have about you, I believe you can be rehabilitated and make something of your life," he told Smith.

"I am able to take what might be seen as an exceptional course because of a combination of your age, your lack of maturity, your remorse and early guilty plea."

But Judge James warned of the likely consequences if he were to breach the suspended sentence.

"You need to understand that this is going to be your one and only opportunity to get your life back on track," he told Smith.

"Should you fail to grab it, you will give me little option but to impose the immediate custodial sentence which some, including (your victim) and his family, may feel you richly deserve.

"Compensation should also be paid so he can buy another designer jacket for the one you ripped from his shoulders."

Smith was also ordered to carry out 120 hours of unpaid work and complete 12 rehabilitation activity sessions.

But the judge said he did not have to pay either court costs or the victim surcharge as "compensation was more important".