A man was robbed of his mobile phone as he spoke to his partner before he was punched, kicked and stamped on in a "frightening" attack in Norwich.

The victim was sitting on a bench talking on his phone in Eastbourne Place, off Prince of Wales Road, when he was approached by Matthew Harrington in the early hours of the morning.

Norwich Crown Court heard Harrington, who was with others who have not been identified, took the phone and put it in his pocket.

Eastern Daily Press: Norwich Crown CourtNorwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Martin Ivory, prosecuting, said the victim got up and asked for his phone back but was punched in the eye by Harrington, now 19 but then just 17.

The victim stumbled but "threw a punch back" before he was then "punched a number of times to the body" by Harrington.

Mr Ivory said the victim fell to the floor when the others "began to kick and stamp" all over him.

His wallet was then taken before Harrington and the others walked off.

A woman working on Norwich's SOS Bus saw what happened and called police before helping the victim and providing treatment to his eye.

Harrington was arrested by officers nearby and still had the victim's mobile phone on him.

Harrington, of Yarmouth Road, Blofield, appeared at court on Monday having pleaded guilty to robbery on August 21 2021.

Judge Katharine Moore said it had been a "disgraceful piece of behaviour".

Eastern Daily Press: Judge Katharine MooreJudge Katharine Moore (Image: Newsquest)She said: "It was a really serious offence.

"Unpleasant in the extreme, frightening no doubt for him (the victim) and it really is a disgraceful piece of behaviour."

But in passing a suspended sentence of 21 months detention in a young offenders' institution (YOI) suspended for 21 months Judge Moore recognised there had been a delay in bringing the defendant, who was a youth at the time, to court.

Marc Brown, mitigating, said the offence happened when Harrington was 17 and had been "young and intoxicated".

He said it was an "unpleasant episode" although there had been no evidence of substantial physical or psychological harm.

Harrington was also given 20 days Rehabilitation Activity Requirement (RAR) and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.