A 12-year-old boy who robbed a teenager delivering newspapers at knifepoint has been locked up by a judge at Worcester Crown Court.

Joshua Trossell demanded a paper from Ian Cooper, 13, and tried to snatch one.

The newsboy grabbed his arm but Trossell warned: "No one touches me." Then he produced a lock knife and made threats with it, said Brett Stevenson, prosecuting.

He allowed Ian to ride off on his bike in Kidderminster after a newspaper was handed over.

Trossell had been given four supervision orders last year and had a record for arson, possession of a weapon in a public place, theft and assault.

Seven days before the robbery, he had been given 12 months' supervision by the probation service for burglary and criminal damage.

Trossell, of Woodbury Road, Kidderminster, sobbed and clung on to his mother as he was sentenced to a 10-month detention and training order.

He will spend half the time in custody.

Judge John Cavell said the public would view it as "incomprehensible" if he was spared detention.

The courts had leant over backwards trying to avoid custody in the past but he was a persistent offender.

"The court is left with no choice at all," said the judge. "I think you are a danger to others."

He made no order banning identification of the schoolboy and checked that barristers in the case had no objections to naming him.

Trossell struck on Wednesday, August 28 last year. He had known the victim from school.

Mr Stevenson said he warned the teenager that he would be punched in the face and hit with the knife if he failed to give him a paper.

Police arrested him the same day and found the weapon at his home. Trossell denied being at the scene of the robbery.

Nigel Stelling, defending, said Trossell's mother was at her wits' end and doubted her own ability to help her son.

But he said the defendant had made progress during past court orders. He could behave differently to the way he acted on the streets.

Mr Stelling said he had the academic ability of a child aged seven to nine.

"Custody is likely to produce a more damaged young man," he added. "It will be more difficult to get him back on the right track."

He conceded that other chances to avoid custody had not met with "glowing success" and that Trossell posed a high risk of reoffending.

Judge Cavell said producing a knife was the most serious element of the case.

Trossell had only pleaded guilty to robbery on the day he was due to face trial.

note to newsdesk: just to confirm that the judge made NO order banning identification. I checked with the judge through his clerk after the case.

The clerk then consulted both barristers - on behalf of the judge - who raised NO objections to Trossell being named.