Number up for train phone robber

A robber was caught after he handed over his mobile telephone in exchange for his victim's more expensive model.

Eneas Tanyongana, of Harlow, Essex, was quickly traced through his home phone number and photographs on the handset.

Luton Crown Court heard how Tanyongana - called "stupid" by police - made a threat to stab his 16-year-old victim.

The 21-year-old - also behind two other muggings on trains - was jailed for six months after admitting the robbery in Hertfordshire earlier this year.

'You've been robbed'

Tanyongana selected his victim on a train between Ware and Rye House, the court heard on Monday.

When the boy asked how he was going to cope without a phone, Tanyongana gave him his own.

Det Con Jon Pine of British Transport Police said: "It was a combination of Tanyongana's own stupidity and good police work that led to him being arrested just hours after the offence."

In another robbery, Tanyongana persuaded a 13-year-old boy to let him look at his mobile phone before refusing to give it back.

He told his victim: "No, you've been robbed," the court heard.

Tanyongana was jailed for six months, and given a six-month suspended sentence, after admitting two counts of robbery and an attempted robbery.