Young offender Christopher White, who mugged four schoolboys of mobile phones and cash, is back on the streets after a judge decided he didn't have to send him to jail.

White, 20, of Queens Avenue, Highworth, was the first youngster to be given an Anti Social Behaviour Order in Swindon.

Swindon Crown Court heard on Friday he terrified his victims by telling them he was armed with a knife.

But the 20-year-old has walked free from court after a judge imposed just an eight month jail term which he suspended for two years.

Claire Marlow, prosecuting, told the court how White targeted young teenagers during a one week period in late July.

On Sunday July 22 she said two 15-year-old boys were walking home through the subway to Elmina Road shortly after 9.30pm.

White appeared behind them and said Give me you're your stuff or I'll stab you' causing one of the youngsters to give him his mobile phone.

As the teenager handed it over White said Guess what; you've just been jacked'. He also took some money from the second lad.

When the other boy said he was going to call the police White told him Don't or I will kill you'.

The second robbery took place a week later just before 5pm on Sunday afternoon when another 15-year-old was walking on Fleming Way close to B&Q.

White, who was sitting on a bench, asked the lad if he had any change for the bus fare to Highworth and then started chatting to his victim.

"He then stood up and said he had a knife and to hand over his mobile phone and money and walk away. He did so and the man then walked away towards Halfords," Miss Marlow said.

White was arrested a week later and admitted both offences, though he said he only took a phone in the second mugging and no cash.

He said he had offered to sell the victims cannabis before threatening them but he insisted he did not actually have a knife on either occasion.

He said he had only carried out the offences to fund his heroin habit which was costing him £40 to £50 a day.

White admitted two counts of robbery and asked for two robberies and four thefts to be taken into consideration.

The court was told that he was first convicted of disorderly behaviour and criminal damage as a thirteen-year-old.

When he was 15 he was convicted of possessing an offensive weapon, breaching an ASBO and escape.

He committed further offences including assaults and breaching court orders and was put on a conditional discharge in July for threatening to damage property.

Paul Orton, defending, said his client committed the offences to get money to fund his drug habit.

He said that his client's drug use could be a disinhibitor' and when he was questioned he expressed genuine remorse for his offending' and felt ashamed'.

Mr Orton said his client seemed genuinely shocked when he learned the ages of the victims and agreed they would have been terrified'.

He said his client started smoking cannabis when he was 12 years old experimenting with speed and ecstasy at 14 before using heroin at 17.

By the time of the offences he said he was injecting four to five bags of heroin a day but had got off drugs while in custody on remand.

Mr Orton said White's mum was prepared to put him up but would throw him out if he lapsed in any way.

Passing sentence Recorder Stewart Jones QC said "Earlier this summer you were living very dangerously behaving like that out in the streets of Swindon.

"It is not a way to do it. If you carry on behaving in that way, drugs or not, you'll end up spending a long time in prison."

Passing an eight month suspended sentence he said "There is a prison sentence waiting for you if you are foolish enough to choose you are not going to co-operate."

He ordered White to complete a two year supervision order, do a think first programme and a six month drug rehabilitation requirement.