A WARRANT has been issued for the arrest of a 22-year-old Stroud man who failed to turn up at Gloucester Crown Court to be sentenced for breaching a community order.

Last year, Rufus Jenson, of Gloucester Street, received a one-year community order with 30 days’ rehabilitation and 100 hours’ unpaid work for robbing a 16-year-old boy in Bank Gardens, Stroud.

On Monday, he was due in court for a second alleged breach of the terms of the order but did not attend.

A probation officer said he had not been in touch and had given no reason for his absence.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC ordered a warrant for his arrest.

Last March, the court was told how a 16-year-old boy had been sitting in Bank Gardens with friends when he was punched, throttled, spat on and robbed by two young men, one of whom was Jenson.

Jenson took a bag from the victim while his accomplice carried out the assault.

The other offender was sentenced to 19 months custody.

Last August, Jenson appeared for a breach when the court was told he had done only one hour of the unpaid work in the first four months of the order.