A HEREFORD teenager has been spared prison after he robbed a passer-by in a case of mistaken identity while out celebrating his 18th birthday.

Joshua Holland had been out in Hereford on August 31, 2020, when after midnight he stole headphones worth £50 from a stranger, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Prosecution barrister Abigail Nixon told the court on Monday (August 16) that despite initial reports suggesting Holland used a knife in the robbery, he had not.

But she said CCTV from Widemarsh Street showed Holland, 18, was "doing something with his arm" which could have brought fear of violence to the victim, who was walking home with his girlfriend at the time.

Defence solicitor Emily Heggadon said Holland, of Widemarsh Street, only had one previous conviction, which saw him fined £144 for being drunk and disorderly.

Judge Martin Jackson said the victim was "totally unknown" to Holland, but thought he was someone who owed him £30.

Holland, possibly drunk at the time, said "give me everything you've got", but his girlfriend "strong-mindedly" walked off with his wallet and phone.

Holland, who pleaded guilty to the robbery on the day his trial was due to start, still took a pair of headphones worth around £50.

The judge said being "accosted" in the early hours of the morning by someone "behaving aggressively" would have been scary.

After reading a pre-sentence report, the judge said it was "something of an achievement" Holland had turned 18 without being in court due to his background.

He spared Holland a prison sentence as 12 months of curfews since the robbery were equal to seven months in custody, and he could be rehabilitated.

He handed Holland a two-year community order where he must complete 20 rehabilitation activity requirement days, 100 hours unpaid work and pay £150 compensation to the victim.