A schoolboy bully carried out a series of attacks and robberies on vulnerable young people to “big himself up,” Bradford Crown Court heard.

The youth’s spree of violence ended with a knifepoint robbery on the canal towpath at Shipley when he made off with a 16-year-old boy’s phone and signet ring.

The defendant, now 16, committed the offences when he was aged 14 and 15, prosecutor Duncan Ritchie told the court on Tuesday.

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was brought to the court for sentence after being remanded in custody for four months.

He pleaded guilty to robbery and having a knife after confronting his victim on the towpath at 8.20pm on October 7.

The court heard that the 16-year-old boy was walking home from his grandmother’s home after dark when the defendant produced a knife and demanded his phone and ring.

The teenager was now afraid to leave the house, Mr Ritchie said. He had been left anxious and nervous and aware that “horrible people are out there.”

The youth, who sat in the dock with his mother, was also sentenced for two offences of battery, a robbery in Roberts Park, Saltaire, and witness intimidation.

He had previous convictions for damage, malicious communication, resisting a police constable, harassment and battery.

Mr Ritchie said the defendant was 14 when he punched an 11-year-old child twice in the face in Roberts Park in August, 2017.

The boy sustained a fractured eye socket, bruising and swelling to his face and head and was left deeply upset, the court was told.

In December, 2017, the boy was one of a group of young people that assaulted a 17-year-old youth on Crag Road, Shipley. He pleaded guilty to battery after the victim was punched, kicked, stamped on, and robbed by another youth.

The defendant struck again in April last year, robbing a 17-year-old youth with learning disabilities in a shelter in Roberts Park.

Another youth produced a knife and the assailants rained blows on the youth before grabbing his bag. The victim sustained serious injuries to his face, teeth and lips and was left terrified, Mr Ritchie said.

He stopped attending college and became a prisoner in his home. “My life has been taken away,” he said in a statement to the court.

The defendant admitted witness intimidation after the victim’s friend was told he must drop the charges or face the consequences.

Jo Shepherd, the youth’s barrister, said he had matured while in custody and showed genuine remorse.

He had himself twice been assaulted while on remand.

The boy had the support of his family and was highly motivated to change his ways.

Judge Colin Burn sentenced him to a 12-month youth rehabilitation order with intensive supervision and surveillance. He must obey a three month electronically monitored curfew between 7pm and 7am.

The judge made a 14 year restraining order, meaning the defendant must not approach or contact his victims.

He was warned to “turn and walk away” if he saw any of them in the street.

Judge Burn said the boy’s offences had “a terrible effect” on those he attacked and robbed.

The youth, who said that he himself had suffering from bullying, was trying to “big himself up,” the judge said.

He told him: “You took it upon yourself to bully others, trying to exercise power over them, and became what one of your victims said was ‘one of those horrible people’.”

Judge Burn warned the youth that if he did not mend his ways he was heading for an adult prison in the future.