A teenager who carried out a series of robberies - including a violent attack on a 13-year-old boy - was caught after a victim saw his picture in KentOnline's sister paper, the Thanet Extra.

Christopher Smith was given a five-year custodial sentence for the attacks, which included three on one youngster.

Smith – who has changed his surname to Banks – began by frightening an 18-year-old girl standing outside the Margate Magistrates' Court in January.

The 19-year old, who lives rough in the Whitstable area, was with two pals when he saw Mitzie Breeze in Cecil Square in January.

Prosecutor Lucy Luckman told Canterbury Crown Court: “She saw three males walking past. The defendant looked at her, which made her feel uncomfortable and she put away her mobile phone.

“The defendant then tried to sell her a silver watch. She said no. He then accused her of laughing at her, telling her: ‘Don’t think I won’t stab you!’.

“He then put one of his arms around her shoulders, telling her: ‘Come with me’,” added Ms Luttman.

Ms Breeze “stood firm” and pushed him away but Banks put his hand on her nose so hard against her face “she thought her nose might break”.

“This was a spate of serious offences committed over a small period of time and while you were on bail” - Judge James O'Mahony

The thug then demanded her phone and pushed her to the ground when she refused to hand it over and walked away.

The prosecutor said the victim later spotted Banks’ photo in the Thanet Extra – in a report about another attack - and reported it to police.

Bizarrely, he admitted attacking someone in Margate but claimed he thought it was a man, the court heard.

Two hours after the first attack, Banks confronted a 13-year-old schoolboy on a train from Margate offering him to sell him his broken watch.

He grabbed the youngster by the throat and ordered him to empty his pockets before kicking him in the stomach.

The victim managed to get off the train at Broadstairs after handing over £25 worth of speakers, £15 headphones and an iPhone charger.

Police circulated images from the train’s CCTV and Banks was identified by Ms Breeze, the court heard.

Ms Luttman told how Banks also robbed a 15-year-old in a Sittingbourne graveyard, twice within days ordering him to hand over a phone.

After hitting the terrified teenager, Banks, who was with another attacker, threatened to return and do something “10 times worse” if he reported it to police.

Days later he confronted the same victim outside a 99p store – ordering him to hand over £1, the court was told.

Ms Luttman said that in between the attacks he had also attacked the teenager on a train - an incident in which magistrates later gave him a 40-day sentence.

John Fitzgerald, defending, said after being remanded into custody Banks had now an insight into how his victims had felt – and referred to himself as “feeling like scum” and hating himself.

Banks, who admitted three robberies and one charge of theft, was sent to a Young Offender’s Institute for five years.

Judge James O’Mahony told him: “This was a spate of serious offences committed over a small period of time and while you were on bail.”