A TEENAGER has been locked up after robbing a youth in Dartford while armed with an imitation handgun.

Tinashe Kachikoti, aged 18, was given a three-and-a-half-year sentence at Maidstone Crown Court after admitting robbery and possessing an imitation firearm with intent to use it.

The court heard that Kachikoti, from Strood, robbed a mobile phone from a 17-year-old boy while holding the fake gun after a drug deal between the two had gone wrong.

Another teenager, 18-year-old Michael Hutchings, was also sentenced after admitting assisting offenders and possessing a knife and imitation firearm in relation to the same incident.

Hutchings, from Chatham, was sentenced to 52 weeks’ custody, suspended for two years, and given a 12-month supervision order.

He was also ordered to do 250 hours of unpaid work, and to be electronically tagged and obey a curfew of 8pm to 6am for four months.