A 23 year old man's sentence for robbing a teenager in Stroud was changed to a £100 fine today because he 'works away from home'.

Fairground worker Rufus Jenson, formerly of Stroud, but now of Pillowell Drive, Gloucester, has 66 hours work outstanding from his original sentence.

The probation service accepted at Gloucester Crown Court that he would not be able to do it because he works away from home.

In March last year, when Jenson was sentenced, the court was told that the sixteen year old robbery victim was sitting in Bank Gardens, Stroud, with friends and was punched, throttled, spat on and robbed by two young men, one of them Jenson.

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

The other offender was sentenced to 19 months custody.

Probation officer Jo Hall asked the court to consider a fine instead of the community order.

Jenson told the court he could not argue against that.

He said he was doing well in his job, which takes him around the country.

The judge, Recorder Michael Vere-Hodge QC, scrapped the existing order and replaced it with a £100 fine and £60 costs.

He gave Jenson six weeks to pay.

Jenson's original sentence was a one year community order with thirty days rehabilitation activity and 100 hours of unpaid work for his role in the robbing of a 16-year-old boy in Stroud.

Today Recorder Vere-Hodge told Jenson: "You have got to remember this was a conviction for robbery.

"That is a very serious offence.

"While it might not have been the most serious robbery the court has ever heard of it was a robbery nonetheless.

"I hope this is now the end of this matter and you don't appear in court again."

Stroud Town Council are attempting to combat anti-social behaviour in areas like Bank Gardens and Park Gardens by liasing with the police and local community groups.

To read more about STC's plan click here.