GAZETTE & HERALD: A GANG of youths who mugged three people in Chippenham town centre have been sent to prison.

Richard McKenzie, 21, of Croydon, Jelani Nicholson, 18, of Rolleston Street, Swindon, Justin Stewart-Nicholson, 20, of Toothill, Swindon, and a 16-year-old threatened and searched two teenagers before attacking a man in Monkton Park.

In that incident McKenzie, who was raised in Jamaica, racially abused Alexander Thompson before the 22-year-old victim was knocked to the floor by a head-butt.

The gang then stripped him of his personal CD player, mobile phone, a key ring and cigarettes before he managed to flee the scene.

Robert Davies, prosecuting, told Swindon Crown Court the gang first struck in an alleyway behind Hardy's restaurant at 5.30pm. They surrounded a teenager and uttered threats as they searched him demanding to see his mobile phone. A second youth was also searched by Nicholson.

They left empty handed and three went into the park. Stewart-Nicholson remained on the town bridge. McKenzie racially abused Mr Thompson before head butting him and saying 'Give me everything you've got on you.'

McKenzie head butted him again and the 16-year-old punched him.

The four youths were arrested and Stewart-Nicholson had the CD player and phone in his pockets.

All four pleaded guilty to attempted robbery. All but Stewart Nicholson admitted robbery and he admitted handling the stolen goods.

The 16-year-old also admitted two other robberies and handling stolen goods in incidents in Swindon.

Judge Charles Wade said: "Street robbery and attempted street robberies are some of the most serious crimes, especially when they are accompanied by violence. The impact of such crimes on victims is often very serious indeed. There is evidence in this case in some of the cases of victims being very frightened and terrified.

"You were on the hunt for mobile phones, cash and anything else you could take from your victims.

"I accept some of you went out without the intention of committing these crimes but I take this as a joint enterprise, you were in it together."

McKenzie was jailed for 21 months, Nicholson and Stewart-Nicholson for 18 months, and the 16-year-old was given a detention and training order.