A CRACKDOWN on "vendettas" on the streets of Salisbury has been promised by a Crown Court judge.

It came after he heard how a teenager had been pressured by older men into mugging two boys in the Harnham residential district of the city last September.

Judge David Maclaren Webster QC was told that 18-year-old William Kerr had been subjected to threats by the older men. The judge said that any potential breaches of the peace in Harnham would be dealt with.

"There can be no vendettas in Harnham," he said.

Kerr, of Netherhampton Road, was appearing at Salisbury Crown Court for sentencing after admitting stealing a mobile phone from a 16-year-old.

He was given a two-year community rehabilitation order and told to do 100 hours' unpaid work under a community penalty order. He was also ordered to pay £150 compensation to his victim, with £300 costs.

James Newton-Price, defending, said Kerr started associating with some older men and began taking drugs.

He said the older men "were prevailing upon him" to hand over items in payment. "There is a background of intimidation," he said.

Prosecuting, Michael Butt said Kerr had approached the boy at Harnham cricket field and demanded he empty his pockets "or I'll slash you".

He took a mobile phone, which was never recovered. Itemised billing showed it was used four times.

Judge Maclaren Webster told Kerr that what he did was reprehensible but, because of what he had heard, he would not order a custodial sentence.

But he told Kerr "and everyone else in this city who goes about robbing people" that they must realise they could expect lengthy custodial sentences.