BABYFACE

Alan Richardson's latest spree of offences saw him burgle his own mother, steal from friends and attack random victims on the street as young as 14.

Now a judge has ordered he spend almost four years behind bars for what she described as "a catalogue of offences involving violence and dishonesty".

Portsmouth Crown Court was told how Richardson, 18, began his latest string of offences by stealing a debit card from a friend while at a party last July, which he later used to withdraw £250 from her account.

Prosecutor Simon Edwards went on to describe how Richardson, who lives in a shed at Nicholas Crescent, Fareham, burgled his mother's house in October, stealing two cheques and then cashing them for £530.

But the most serious crimes were committed against people Richardson met by chance in the street.

Mr Edwards told how one 14-year-old victim was riding a skateboard in Fareham when he was approached by Richardson, who was bearing swastika symbols on his chest.

"The defendant grabbed hold of the silver chain around the victim's neck and pulled it off.

"He then headbutted him," he said.

Richardson then turned on a man who had witnessed the attack from his property nearby on April 4.

"The victim told police he was met with a hail of blows to his face and head," said Mr Edwards.

Richardson also admitted stealing mobile phones from two members of the public.

One of them was Saif Alsaeed, as he walked through The Gillies in Fareham on an evening in February. He was pushed and shoved by Richardson, who was later found to have a Stanley knife on him.

Mr Edwards said: "To aggravate the situation the defendant sought out where Mr Alsaeed lived and told him if he dropped the charges, he would make sure he got his phone back.

"When he refused, he was subjected to more abusive behaviour."

At previous hearings Richardson pleaded guilty to three counts of theft, racially aggravated common assault, having a blade in a public place, robbery, assault, intimidating a witness, burglary and two counts of making and using forged cheques.

Mitigating barrister Bill Moseley said his client had a troubled background, having been in foster care from an early age.

"He has had little, if any, positive influences in his life over recent years.

"This will be a wiping clean of the slate for Mr Richardson as he has been making progress during the time he has already spent in prison."

In sentencing Richardson to three years and nine months in a young offenders' institution Recorder Claudia Ackner told the teenager: "Along with burgling your mother's house and stealing from friends, you take advantage of chance encounters with members of the public and inflict gratuitous violence upon them. They have a right to be protected from people like you."