Three teenagers have been locked up for plotting a violent robbery in a dark Bradford alleyway.

Their 17-year-old victim was seized in a headlock, repeatedly punched and his two phones snatched when he was set upon in a snicket off Westlands Drive, Allerton, Bradford.

Nabeel Arif, 19, and two youths aged 16 and 17, who cannot be named, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to rob on the evening of December 20 last year.

Prosecutor Peter Byrne told Bradford Crown Court yesterday that one of the younger boys wore a bandanna for the attack but the victim recognised him.

He was grabbed in a headlock by Arif who punched him up to six times. His pockets were rifled and his phones stolen.

Arif had previous convictions for criminal damage and battery.

His solicitor advocate, Simon Hustler, said he was 18 at the time of the robbery.

He and his accomplices had fallen out with the victim and it was “an advanced form of bullying” rather than robbery for gain.

The trio threw away the phones after stealing them.

Arif was phoned by one of the younger defendants and asked to join the robbery plan.

“He was talked into it and it seemed like a good idea at the time,” Mr Hustler said.

Abdul Iqbal, for both of the younger boys, said they were 16 and 15 at the time.

Each had a serious medical condition and one had special educational needs.

The pair had joint previous convictions for robbery and attempted robbery. They were part of a three-strong gang that mugged two youths at a football ground and took a phone.

Judge Peter Benson sentenced Arif to eight months detention in a young offender institution.

The boys were each given eight month detention and training orders.