TWO teenage robbers who attacked a barman, leaving him bruised and battered in a country lane, in an act of “thuggery” have been jailed.

Oxford Crown Court heard today that Dean Pratley, 19, of Larch End, Garsington, and Ryan Smith, 19, of Elm Drive, Garsington, were drunk when they robbed barman Stuart Meek in the early hours of September 7, 2007.

Jane Seer, prosecuting, said Smith aimed his moped at Mr Meek, who was walking home near Garsington, and knocked him over. Pratley, who was a passenger on the moped, kicked Mr Meek as he lay on the ground and stole his mobile phone and a wallet containing about £10.

The Recorder, Belinda Bucknall, described the attack as “unplanned and opportunistic”.

She added: “You used a moped as a weapon. The victim was injured in several places and was very shaken up.

“It is essential for the public and sends out a message to anyone committing robbery in these circumstances that this type of thuggery will lead to a custodial sentence.”

Smith, who has previous convictions for theft and battery, had denied a charge of robbery but was found guilty by a jury after a trial at Oxford Crown Court last month.

Ms Bucknall sentenced Smith to 12 months in a young offenders’ institution and Pratley, who admitted a charge of robbery last year, got six months.