A thug who robbed a teenager of his phone has been sentenced to two years’ youth custody.

Drug user John Touhey jumped out of a van in Walderslade Road, Chatham, and pounced on the 16-year-old after asking him for directions.

He was then driven off by his brother.

Touhey admitted robbery and appeared for sentence on Friday on the eve of his 19th birthday.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the victim had been to a gym and was on his way home just before midday on April 17 when Touhey asked for directions.

He could not understand what was being said and just replied: “I don’t know”.

Prosecutor Donna East said Touhey got out, went up to the teenager and said: “What, are you being stupid?”

He grabbed the boy by the shoulders and pulled him to the van, telling him to get in.

“I don’t think I need a victim statement to imagine how frightening it must have been...” - Judge Michael Carroll

Miss East said: “He was struggling. He was punched three times to the head.”

When told he had no money Touhey took the victim’s iPhone and told him: “Run”.

An AA man stopped and gave him a lift. He gave police details of the phone, which had a tracking device.

Deborah Arnold was driving past and took down part of the van’s registration number.

Officers tracked the phone to Chatham High Street and saw Touhey close to the van. He had the phone in his hand. He threw it over a wall as he tried to escape, but was caught.

Judge Michael Carroll said: “I don’t think I need a victim statement to imagine how frightening it must have been.

“Some six months afterwards he was still suffering some after effects of a psychological kind.”

He told Touhey, of High Street, Colnbrook, Slough, that he took into account Touhey’s family circumstances, caring for his ailing mother, but noted he had been spending a lot of time in Kent.