A TEENAGE thief from Reading has been urged not to waste his youth ‘in the docks’ after appearing at Crown Court this morning.

The youngster, who pleaded guilty to stealing an iPhone 6 and trainers at a hearing in December 2020, was due to be sentenced by Judge Paul Dugdale today (April 9).

He was originally set to learn his fate alongside a co-defendant facing a trial related to the 2019 robbery, which took place in Reading, but his case was dropped leaving just the Reading teenager in the docks at Crown Court.

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The teen will now receive his punishment at a later date after his defence Caroline Stewart convinced Judge Dugdale to move his sentencing to youth court.

Addressing the youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, the Judge said: “You plead guilty a long time ago now.

“I remember thinking you were a young man who had some difficulties at the time.

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“It is a lousy way to spend your youth, in the docks.

“You are a young man with a lot of potential.”

The teenager appeared at Reading Crown Court on Friday, April 9, having pleaded guilty to one charge of robbery last year.

He was released on bail.

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