ONE 16-year-old girl has received a 12-month custodial sentence and a second a punishment “worse than prison” for their part in a terrifying robbery in York city centre.

The first tried to grab one handbag from a student who was out with friends on September 21 near Kuda nightclub in Clifford Street, York Youth Court heard.

She backed off while a police patrol car went past, but then resumed her attack and succeeded in grabbing a handbag from another student in the victim’s group and ran off. The second girl helped the first escape by changing clothes with her and took some of the items from the handbag, which was later found abandoned.

The first girl, from west York, pleaded guilty to robbery and attempted robbery and was given a 12-month detention and training order.

The second, from north York, denied robbery of the second victim but was convicted at a trial. She was cleared of attempting to rob the first victim, a charge she had also denied.

Magistrates told her the three girls targeted by the two robbers had been “absolutely petrified” by the incident and that her punishment “will be harder than prison”.

They also warned her if she didn’t do as they told her to, she would join her friend behind bars.

The second girl was given an 18-month youth rehabilitation order with an intensive supervision and surveillance programme, 18 months’ supervision, a six-month nightly curfew and a programme of activities that will last more than 91 days. She was also ordered to pay £100 towards the costs of her trial and a £15 statutory surcharge.

For her, Liam Hassan said she had changed since the incident and was now working hard at college.

She had not offended since her friend was sent to prison in October.

The second girl told the court she and her friend were bad influences on each other. They were still friends and she intended to see her after she is released from custody, but not as often as before. She said she wanted to succeed in her college studies.