A SOUTHAMPTON teenager will spend his coming-of-age birthday behind bars - for assisting in robbing a martial arts enthusiast.

Jason McGeorge, who will be 18 on Friday, had grabbed a sports bag after the victim Robert Horrigan was beaten up by an accomplice armed with a screwdriver.

David Swinstead, prosecuting at the city crown court, described how the victim was ambushed at the entrance to a block of flats, and was struck in the face three or four times.

McGeorge and the other man then fled to the teenager's flat, where they got rid of the bag by throwing it out of a window.

Police discovered the stolen property and McGeorge was arrested about 24 hours after the robbery.

McGeorge, of the Polygon, Southampton, pleaded guilty to robbery last August, when sentence had been adjourned for six months. However, in the interim, he had committed traffic offences and had appeared before magistrates on three charges of shoplifting and one of attempted deception.

Judge Paul Darlow gave McGeorge a 12 months' detention and training order

He told McGeorge: "Last time the court gave you a chance. You seem to have been determined to screw up as much as possible."

The court was told the accomplice was never prosecuted, after the victim failed to pick him out at an identity parade.

Charles Thomas, defending, said McGeorge's future looked optimistic after his August court appearance, but just before Christmas, he lost his home after a row with his landlord, and then lost his job. Shortly afterwards, he began re-offending.