A 17-year-old robber who carried out a series of muggings at a shopping centre has been given a detention and training order.

Stefan Petik attacked four people - including a 14-year-old boy - between July last year and January at Chatham's Pentagon centre, stealing mobile phones, a bike, gloves and jewellery.

Maidstone Crown Court heard how the teen punched one victim and then threatened to abduct his mother if the robbery was reported.

Prosecutor Natalya Segrove told how he mugged another, stealing his mobile and then walked him to a phone shop so the security on the device could be dismantled.

Petik, of Magpie Hall Road, Chatham, admitted four robberies and a theft and received a 12-month detention and training order.

Ms Segrove said the first attack happened when Petik walked up to a man and punched him before rifling through his trousers to steal a £510 Samsung phone.

He then warned him “not to snitch”.

In October, he stole a bike from a 14-year-old and days later followed a victim down an alleyway, stealing a mobile and threatening him with violence.

The prosecutor said that in January he threatened to stab one victim if the robbery was reported.

Petik took a mobile phone and jewellery given to the victim by his father.

Paul Hogben, defending, said since his arrest and remand, Petik admitted he was “shocked” by his conduct.

“The offences just came out of the blue..and he is ashamed by his behaviour.”

Judge David Griffith-Jones QC took the unusual decision after hearing an application on behalf of the press to lift a restriction banning us naming him.

He said: “In these circumstances open justice trumps the rights of this defendant in my view.”

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