Three teenagers who assaulted a young man in Swindon town centre have been told to expect jail terms.

James Tyrell, 18, and two youths aged 16 and 17 who cannot be named for legal reasons had been accused of robbing a man in the attack on Monday, February 26.

They pleaded guilty to that charge when they appeared before a judge at Swindon crown court and admitted counts of actual bodily harm.

The youngest of the three also pleaded guilty to the theft of some tissues and a pen worth a total of £1.10 following the assault.

David Chidgey, prosecuting, said the attack had been caught on closed circuit television and it would be shown at the sentencing hearing.

He said it had been decided not to proceed with the robbery as the taking of the items appeared to be an afterthought rather than the reason for the assault.

The court was told that the two older boys had no previous convictions and the younger one just a single matter recorded against him.

Paul Orton, for the 17-year-old, said his client accepted tripping up the victim and landing one kick but not being part of a joint enterprise or being part of what anyone else did.

The case against Tyrell, of Rettingham Way, Kingsdown, and his two co-defendants was adjourned to Friday, June 8 when they will face sentence.

Judge John McNaught said: "I want you all to know that this is a serious incident for which the probable sentence is going to be custody whatever the report says and you must not let the fact you are on bail let you think you are home and dry.

"I regard this as a serious incident that deserves a custodial sentence but I have not heard the case and all the evidence and it probably won't be me passing sentence."

All three were released on bail on condition they live at their home addresses, observe a 7pm to 7am curfew monitored by an electronic tag, not contact each other, stay out of places with on and off licences and not have alcohol in a public place.