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A teenager who robbed a driver of the takings from four shops has walked free from court.

Barry Barnett snatched more than £1,700 from the front seat of a van during the daylight robbery behind a store in Walcot.

And the 19-year-old, who has a string of previous convictions including another robbery, tussled with his victim as he struggled to stop the robbery.

But instead of jailing Barnett a judge at Swindon crown court imposed a two year community order.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, said Mustafa Watson was working for the owner of the Ninety Niner chain of stores in October last year when the offence happened.

He had been collecting takings from a number of the shops when he went to the branch at Sussex Square on the morning of Friday October 5.

After getting the money and putting it in a black rucksack on the passenger seat of his van he saw someone he knew as 'Barry' on a bike approaching his vehicle.

The cyclist opened the door and asked the time and as the victim looked at his watch snatched the bag and tried to get away.

But Mr Watson grabbed the bag and also bit the robber in the ensuing tussle but Barnett managed to get away with the bag.

As well as the £1,778 takings the rucksack also contained a driving licence and mobile phone belonging to Mr Watson.

Miss Marlow said the defendant was picked out in an identity parade by the victim and another shop worker but he made no comment in interview.

Barnett, formerly of Booth House, Princes Street, Swindon, pleaded guilty to robbery and asked for six counts of theft from cars to be take into consideration.

Rob Ross, defending, said the probation service had been trying to get a place for his client at the Croft hostel.

In the interim he said they had managed to get him bed and breakfast accommodation in Cheney Manor.

Mr Ross said the probation service would be able to see his client, who had served more than 160 days in custody on remand, on a regular basis.

He also asked the court to impose an order banning Barnett from going to the area where his mother lives or from having contact with her, her daughter and his step father.

Passing sentence Judge Douglas Field said "I am going to take an exceptional course in this particular case of making a community order so that you will now be under the supervision of the probation services for 24 months.

"I do this because of the circumstances I have read about in the pre-sentence report. It is my judgement that at your age if we can stop this offending in its tracks now with this help and support then we can rehabilitate you.

"That is why the court is taking this exceptional course. Now it is in your hands to rehabilitate yourself or go on with a life of crime and prison."

As well as the two year order he said the probation service would order where Barnett would life during the first six months of the sentence.

3:57pm Tuesday 25th March 2008

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