Robber, 17, who struck days before murder locked up

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was handed a six-month detention and training order after admitting robbing Gurmail Singh of cigarettes at the shop in the Cowcliffe area on the evening of February 18.

The robbery happened two days before 63-year-old grand-father Mr Singh was attacked and killed in his store. The teenager was not involved in the second incident.

Huddersfield Youth Court heard the teenager and an unnamed friend were wearing gloves, hooded jackets and disguises as they entered Mr Singh's shop.

Prosecuting, Ashraf Mohammad said: "They threw items around the store and, although they had their faces covered by scarves, Mr Singh could see one of them was a white male.

"The defendant's accomplice struck Gurmail Singh to the face as he was trying to detain him and also knocked his turban off. They subsequently ran off."

Eileen Marchant, presiding, sentenced the youth to three months in secure accommodation followed by a three-month community sentence.

Defending, solicitor Mark Brookes said the teenager had fraught family relations which meant he had no background support on which he could rely.

Addressing the court, the teenager said: "I made a big mistake when I did this thing and I can't change what I did – but I can change the future, if you know what I mean."