A teenager who attacked a 16-year-old in an alleyway and stole his iPhone admitted another 35 robberies when he appeared in court.
Dale Nightingale (18) said he "wanted to wipe the slate clean" and asked a crown court judge to take into consideration the robberies, another 23 thefts from the person and 68 thefts from vehicles.
He appeared at Leicester Crown Court along with 20-year-old Luke Pegg for the robbery of the teenager.
They were both jailed for three years after judge Michael Pert examined their records.
The court heard the robbery happened on June 12. Pegg had agreed to meet the victim to give him a BlackBerry mobile phone, after taking £50 from him the previous day.
But John Hallissey, prosecuting, said as they walked back to Pegg's home, the defendants attacked the 16-year-old as they turned into an alleyway in the city centre.
Mr Hallissey said: "Pegg head-butted the teenager and then punched him twice in the face. He then took his legs from under him and he fell to the floor."
He said Nightingale grabbed the victim from behind and pulled him up.
He said: "Pegg asked for his phone. The victim said he did not have one so Pegg and Nightingale searched his rucksack and found an iPhone."
He said Pegg asked for the password and the victim initially refused to give it.
Mr Hallissey said: "Pegg then said he would shoot the victim in the leg if he did not give the password."
At that point, the victim relented and the two defendants ran off with the iPhone.
The court heard Nightingale, of Mundesley Road, Hamilton, Leicester had five previous convictions, including one for violent disorder during the disturbances in Leicester in August last year.
He was said to have turned to crime when he got involved in taking drugs when he was 16.
Mr Hallissey said Pegg, formerly of London Road, Leicester, had been out on licence – after being given a three-year term of youth custody for robbery – when the offence happened.
He said Pegg had a total of 20 previous convictions for 27 offences.
Pegg wrote a letter to the judge expressing his remorse for his actions.
The court heard that Pegg had been involved in teaching other inmates to read after he was recalled to custody after the robbery.
Judge Pert told the defendants: "I intend to treat you the same.
"Pegg, you have an appalling record and Nightingale has said he wants to wipe the slate clean. So I do take into consideration the other offences."
