Teenage yob 'spiralled out of control'

A TEENAGER who robbed a man and burgled three homes has been locked up for almost four years.

Damien Roseveare, aged 19, was sent to custody for 42 months for a string of offences including taking part in a street fight.

Roseveare later punched a stranger in the street and snatched his rucksack, the court heard.

His own barrister told Plymouth Crown Court he had "spiralled out of control".

Judge Graham Cottle told Roseveare the robbery was "very unpleasant".

The teenager, of Providence Place, Stoke, admitted robbing Lee Toh with another person in Plymouth on September 18.

He pleaded guilty to the aggravated burglary of a home in Paradise Place the same day.

Roseveare further admitted taking a flat screen television of an unknown value during a burglary at Endeavour Court in Stoke on October 17.

He pleaded guilty to burglary of a home in Craigmore Avenue, Devonport, the very next day, taking a laptop computer and tobacco worth £430.

Roseveare also pleaded guilty to affray in Ivybridge on July 8 last year.

Julia Cox, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said Mr Toh was walking down Paradise Road in Stoke at about 7pm when he was approached by Roseveare and Ryan Herring. She added he crossed the road to avoid the strangers but Roseveare tried to trip him up by kicking at his heels.

Miss Cox said Roseveare punched him twice to the forehead and tried to push him over.

Herring, aged 20, also punched him and Mr Toh dropped his rucksack.

The court heard the pair grabbed the bag and ran away.

Miss Cox said a couple of hours before a resident discovered Roseveare in a bedroom at his home in Paradise Place, Stoke.

One of the men punched the man and the two fled with a digital camera.

Miss Cox said Roseveare also took part in a fight in Harford Road in Ivybridge.

Jason Beal, for Roseveare, said: "He is a young man who has spiralled out of control."

He added he was almost relieved to be arrested because he could then tackle his drink and drug use.

Mr Beal said he had made use of his time in custody on remand, doing educational and alcohol awareness courses.

Roseveare appeared in the dock alongside 18-year-old Shaun Burmby, of St Aubyn Terrace, Devonport.

Burmby admitted two counts of affray related to the Ivybridge fight in July 2011.

Miss Cox said he headbutted a man and broke his nose.

Judge Cottle gave him a nine-month custodial sentence, suspended for two years and probation supervision for 12 months.

He must do 100 hours of unpaid work and stick to a curfew on Fridays and Saturdays for the next 30 days.

Herring, of Providence Place, Stoke, had earlier pleaded guilty to the robbery and the burglary alongside Roseveare on the same day.

Judge Cottle granted him bail until he is sentenced on January 17 next year with the aid of a probation report.