A driver who was holding a screwdriver when he demanded three 15-year-old lads hand over a football has been spared a jail term.

Although John Cooper was armed with the ‘weapon’ a court was told he only had it in his hand because he needed it to start his car.

And Judge Euan Ambrose decided that the 20-year-old was showing off to his friends when he committed the offence in Lyneham.

Cooper, of Pound Close, Lyneham, had been driving his car though the village on November 29 last year when he saw the teenagers having a kick about in Preston Lane.

As he passed there was a bit of ‘good humoured banter’ between him and the boys, some of whom he knew.

Colin Meeke, prosecuting, said one of the youngsters said something ‘pretty innocuous’ causing Cooper to pull up. He went across to them and demanded they hand over their football.

The lads became slightly alarmed when they saw the screwdriver but refused to hand over the ball and Cooper returned to the car.

Cooper admitted three counts of attempted robbery and possessing a bladed article. Mike Jeary, defending, said Cooper was from a good family, had never been in trouble before and frequently assisted elderly neighbours.

He was sentenced to a one year community order and told to do 150 hours of community service and observe a night time curfew for three months.