A youth has been spared jail after robbing a commuter at Seven Kings train station.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, snatched an iPhone from the woman as she was waiting for a train on August 3.

He fled the station but British Transport Police officers traced the offender using CCTV footage.

The stolen phone was not recovered.

The boy received a two year youth rehabilitation order after pleading guilty to robbery at the Youth Court at Barkingside Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

He must attend 80 hours of appointments with police officers over the next year, wear an electronic tag and stay at home between 9pm and 7am for three months.