A TEENAGER lured his partner’s ex-boyfriend into a “trap” and beat him up with two others before capturing the victim’s humiliation on film, a court heard.

The 16-year-old from Bolton posed as his girlfriend in Facebook messages and mobile phone messages in order to fool the victim, who was older, into meeting in Westbourne Avenue, Great Lever.

But the defendant and two others attacked the former boyfriend before rifling through the victim’s pockets, pulling the victim’s trousers down, spitting on his face twice and then recording degrading footage of him on a mobile telephone.

He was sentenced at Bolton Crown Court yesterday after admitting robbery, which the 16-year-old planned and carried out late at night on February 20.

Judge Timothy Clayson, the Honorary Recorder of Bolton, said: “The plain facts demonstrate a nasty offence.

“There is clearly a considerable element of planning here.

“The use of a Facebook account and phone messages is clear evidence the victim was lured into a trap.”

The victim was attacked by three people and knocked to the ground and subjected to punches and kicks.

Prosecutor Elizabeth Dudley-Jones said: “At least one of the co-defendants was heard towards the end of the incident telling the defendant to stop and that the police were coming and that he needed to leave the complainant alone and the defendant said ‘No, I need to give him some more’ and proceeded to punch him 10 times more in the face.”

The victim’s injuries did not turn out to be particularly serious — cuts, bruises and swelling.

Nick Ross, for the defendant, said: “It was very much an assault that got out of hand and the theft element was more of an afterthought.”

He said his client had expressed remorse and wanted to make a fresh start with his girlfriend, who has stood by him, and his young child.

The court was told the 16-year-old committed the robbery in breach of a youth rehabilitation order imposed for two robberies of taxi drivers in June 2015.

Judge Timothy Clayson imposed a detention and training order for 18 months which means the defendant will spend nine months in detention and nine months on licence.

He said: “This is not a case where all hope is lost. Quite the opposite.

“I think you’re intelligent, more so than you perhaps believe yourself.

“You have a lot of personal issues to sort out.”

A count of causing grievous bodily harm with intent was dismissed after prosecutors offered no evidence and counts of possession of an offensive weapon and assault were ordered to lie on file.