A 26-year-old man who attacked a schoolboy and took his mobile telephone was told to “grow up” by a judge.

Burnley Crown Court heard how Mohammed Bhatti slapped the 15-year-old victim around the back of the head, knocking off his glasses and stealing the phone, which had been a Christmas present.

Bhatti, a father of one, was given four months in prison, suspended for 18 months, with 18 month supervision and ordered to complete 80 hours unpaid work.

The court was told in the past he had served 120 days in custody for an assault on a former partner and he had been to prison since the attack on the boy and had been on bail for other offences at the time.

Recorder Barry Searle slammed his actions as “childish, immature and pathetic”. He said: “You should be thoroughly ashamed of yourself.”

The defendant, of Abel Street, Burnley, admitted theft and assault by beating in March last year.

Sarah Statham, prosecuting, told the court on March 3, just before 8pm, the victim had been walking along Newhall Street, Burnley, when the incident happened.