A MAN spared jail for mugging a 13-year-old boy for his phone kept his freedom despite flouting the sentence he received.

Joe Barraclough had last November been given a suspended prison term for targeting the boy, which included 120 hours’ unpaid work.

But Burnley Crown Court Was told he had six ‘unacceptable’ absences from the work sessions and still had 69 hours to do.

Barraclough, now a window cleaner, admitted breaching the sentence of 52 weeks, suspended for two years.

He was fined £250 with £125 costs and was warned by a judge there would be no more chances.

Barraclough, of Airdrie Crescent, Burnley, had earlier admitted robbery.

He had demanded the boy's phone and pushed him when the youngster was on his way to school in the Lowerhouse area.

The court had been told how the teenager fell to the ground and Barraclough punched him in the eye and snatched the phone.

Recorder Kevin Talbot told the defendant he was on the cusp of serving a year behind bars. He said: “There will be no more opportunities."