TWO teenagers who tried to rob a woman while one wielded a broken bottle of Jägermeister have been spared jail.

Josh Eggleton-Heart, 18, of Tavistock Avenue, Didcot, and Sam Weller, 19, of Pipkin Way, Oxford, had both already admitted one count each of attempted robbery and Weller had pleaded guilty to possession of an offensive weapon and theft.

Oxford Crown Court heard at their sentencing on Tuesday how Weller first entered the Co-Op store, Ladygrove, Didcot, on the morning of March 2 this year before snatching a four-pack of Budweiser.

Shorty afterwards Weller confronted a woman walking at Tamir Way at about 8am while holding the broken bottle.

Prosecutor Henry James told the court that on approaching his victim he called out ‘I’m sorry to have to do this’ before demanding she hand over all that she had.

Bravely, the court heard, the woman held her ground and went on to try and talk Weller down, even asking if he was alright and had a place he could stay.

A passer-by, flagged down by the woman, then stopped his car and told her to get in before they escaped the scene and Weller in turn fled in a car driven by his co-defendant Eggleton-Heart.

Police soon arrested the pair after spotting the car in the area and Eggleton-Heart went on to confess what had happened.

In mitigation, defence teams for each of the men said that their clients were ‘remorseful’ and ashamed of their actions.

Sentencing, Judge Peter Ross said: “This was a broken bottle which in fact maybe even more terrifying than some knives carried. I am told that you are ashamed of yourselves and so you should be.”

Weller was jailed for 24 months and Eggleton-Heart 22 months, both suspended for two years. Each was also made subject to a community order to include 200 hours of unpaid work, a six-month curfew and 30 days rehabilitation activity requirement, and must pay £2,000 each in compensation.