TWO teenagers who assaulted boys in the town centre while demanding money and mobile phones have been handed custodial sentences.

The teenage boys, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were walking down Horsemarket Street on March 24 when they decided to approach a group of boys.

On Wednesday, Warrington Magistrates' Court heard that the teenagers asked the group for a lighter.

When one replied that they didn't have one, they stood in front of him so they could not get past.

The teens then asked if the boys had any money and became more aggressive.

They asked: "Do you have anything else?" to which one of the panicked boys replied, "I have a mobile phone," but refused to hand it over.

CCTV footage showed boy A, aged 16, slapping the boy across the face before grabbing both sides of his jacket.

Boy B, aged 15, was armed with a belt which he wrapped around his hand.

He pursued the boy into the middle of Horsemarket Street and slapped the boy again before pushing him to the ground.

The boys managed to run off in the direction of Bridge Street while the teenagers walked towards Warrington Central Station.

They crossed the road and approached another group of boys outside the Winwick Street car park.

A similar exchange took place and a boy was pushed back causing him to fall to the ground.

The teenagers walked off with a 50p coin.

During his time on bail for these offences, boy B was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon.

He was seen with a large kitchen knife in his street following a confrontation over a stolen mobile phone.

Boy A also faced a charge of theft after stealing £650 worth of stock from JD Sports in Golden Square.

Vic Wozny, defending boy B, said: "I have been able to get very little information from my client, it was like pulling teeth from a dragon.

"He is a young man who is very difficult to communicate with.

"During the incident with the knife, he was being accused of stealing a girl's phone which he did not do.

"When her dad confronted him about it he went back to get a knife but it was never brandished.

"It has been suggested that older boys in his peer group have a negative influence over him but boy B does not accept this.

"He has no previous convictions but admitted that he took part in robberies aged 13 but these were never brought before the court.

"He told me that he is sorry for the boys."

Karl Benson, defending boy A, said: "I believe this may be a case where they are being directed and exploited criminally by older associates.

"He has no previous convictions but is currently on bail while Greater Manchester Police investigate robberies in their area and a drug offence in the city centre.

"He was unarmed in both Warrington offences.

"I know this does not make up for the seriousness of these crimes."

Chair of the magistrates Margaret Ratcliffe, said: "Part of our job as magistrates is to protect the public who are entitled to walk around busy areas without intimidation, fear and robberies."

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She handed boy B an eight-month sentence in a youth detention centre and boy A four months.

Both the boys' parents were ordered to pay the victims £50 compensation.