A teen has been jailed after dragging a woman along behind a stolen moped while stealing her iPhone.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was handed a five year term after a week long trial at Blackfriars Crown Court.

The robber, who is from Islington, was driving a stolen motorbike down Goswell Road in September with an accomplice.

He tried to snatch a iPhone from a 34-year-old woman as they rode past, but she hung on to her phone and was knocked to the ground and dragged along the pavement before she finally gave it up.

She escaped with scrapes and bruises, but later told the court she was shocked and frustrated by the robbery.

Police from the bike squad were nearby after reports of another snatch when they saw the young thug speeding off and chased after him.

The reckless pair managed to dodge the officers and clipped another pedestrian while driving through a park – this victim ended up in hospital but wasn’t badly injured.

After their spree, a member of the public saw the pair dump the bike and run away.

The 17-year-old dropped his mobile phone in the process, and the member of public handed it into police, along with the bike registration.

When the registration was checked, police found the moped had been used in a series of robberies, which led the pair’s arrest.

A jury found the 17-year-old guilty, and his accomplice was cleared.

The youngster, who was sentenced on March 22, was found guilty of robbery and aggravated vehicle taking. As well as the jail sentence, he was also banned from driving for six years after his release.

Det Con Paul Needley said: “This could easily have ended in tragedy and highlights the risks this type of crime poses to members of the public, police officers and also offenders.

“The severity of the sentence given by the court against this juvenile reflects the court’s lack of tolerance for robberies of any kind but particularly of this nature, and should serve as a stark warning to anyone committing these offences. We will find you, we will send you to court and you will go to prison for a substantial period”.