FOUR muggers who stole mobile phones from boys in Blackburn town centre have been jailed for a total of seven years.

The victims were targeted in the early evening as the gang hunted in packs, Preston Crown Court was told.

Stolen property was sold on for cash over four months - and all the thugs were just 15 at the time of the crimes.

Shoieb Patel and Atif Chowdhary, both 16 and of Ash Street, Blackburn, each were given two years' detention and training.

Patel pleaded guilty to three robberies and two attempted robberies, as well as three charges of theft. Chowdhary admitted four robberies and one theft.

Two other defendants, Fiaz Hussain, 16, of Montague Street, Blackburn, and Faizal Hussain, 16, of Randal Street, were sentenced to 18 months' detention.

Fiaz admitted four robberies and a theft, while Faizal confessed to three thefts and one robbery.

Andrew Alty, prosecuting, said: "There was a systematic, prolonged, well-planned and well executed series of street robberies."

The first offence was a theft in July last year when a 16-year-old boy in the Church Street area as he used his mobile phone.

One of the gang asked to use the phone before another ran off with it.

The following day, a 15-year-old was pinned against a wall by his neck while one crook took £30 in cash from his pockets.

A second 15-year-old victim was also punched and his £100 mobile smashed. One robbery also occurred in an underpass near Market Place. The court heard of an incident involving two 13-year-old boys in August when one was bullied into handing over a phone.

His mother's mobile was taken from his pocket while his pal was also forced to surrender his phone.

The victim was then punched and kicked.

Also in August, a young lad was robbed when he was approached by three youths in Barbara Castle Way.

He was asked for change before being grabbed and thrown to the floor.

A phone was taken, as well as £150 cash and his front door key.

The gang of thugs then started to punch and kick him on the ground.

It was even alleged that Chowdhary, one of these involved, jumped on his head.

A fifth defendant who admitted one charge of theft had his sentencing adjourned until next month.