A teenager has been jailed for robbing three young footballers in a terrifying gunpoint mugging.
Craig Cozens had a grudge against the three victims and threatened to lead a gang attack on their homes if they reported him to the police.
He produced a realistic looking handgun and forced the three youngster to hand over their mobile phones before fleeing, Exeter Crown Court was told.
Cozens, aged 18, of Teignmouth Road, Torquay, admitted three robberies and possessing an imitation firearm and was jailed for three years and four months in a young offenders' institution by Judge Phillip Wassall.
The Judge told him:"You pulled out what appeared to be a black handgun. It is now said to be an imitation but that makes no difference because the victims thought it was a real gun.
"They must have been scared to death. You told them you knew where they lived and what would happen to them. You said you would send your boys up in a car.
"You had only turned 18 a few days earlier and I take that into account. However, this was at night and was a street robbery with an imitation firearm."
Mr David Bowen, prosecuting, said the three boys, all aged 17 or 18, were walking home after playing football on July 1 when they were intercepted by Cozens in Hookhills Grove, Torquay.
Cozens complained one of the three had assaulted one of his friends and then produced the black gun, which had a yellow flash on the side and is thought to be a BB gun.
Mr Bowen said:"He demanded their mobile phones and issued threats that if they told anyone he knew where they lived and would send his boys up in a car.
"One of the victims has made a statement saying he was shocked and confused because what was going on was so unexpected."
He said the gun and phones have not been recovered. Cozens has previous convictions for criminal damage, taking a moped without consent and possessing cannabis.
Mr Paul Dentith, defending, said the whole incident had only taken 30 seconds or so. He said:"It is clear there had been some bad feeling between the group and the defendant in the past."
He said Cozens had only turned 18 six days before the robbery, his previous convictions are for very different offences, and he had admitted his guilt at his first court appearance.
