TWO "model" youths have been sent to custody after a court heard how they robbed a man "for a laugh".

Alexander Butterworth and Heath Nield, both 19, both admitted robbery and were sent to a Young Offenders' Institution for nine months after appearing before Burnley Crown Court. Butterworth had also pleaded guilty to driving with excess alcohol and was banned from driving for 12 months.

The court heard how Butterworth, a promising rugby player whose father runs a Rossendale company, had armed himself with a hammer in a joke that went too far.

Church goer and charity worker Heath Nield stopped the car Butterworth was driving while over the limit and attacked John Lyndsay in the early hours, last November.

Butterworth, of Knowl Meadow, Helmshore, and Nield, of Howarth Drive, Stacksteads, neither of whom have any previous convictions, listened as a judge slammed their behaviour as loutish and unacceptable -- but said it was one of the saddest and most difficult cases she had had to deal with for long time.

Judge Lesley Newton said the defendants were normally decent, well brought up and well behaved young men and she could not imagine how their families must be feeling. She added they were not the kind of people she saw day in and day out in the courts

But, she went on, although she knew custody was not going to do either of them any good, the Court of Appeal had said that jail terms of three to four years were appropriate for street robbery -- and she had no alternative but to send them to custody.

Ciaron Rankin, prosecuting, said Mr Lyndsay, who had been out with friends and was drunk, was walking home when the defendants' vehicle stopped. He was asked for a cigarette and was knocked to the ground. Both defendants started to kick Mr Lyndsay and he handed over about £6 in change.

Nield demanded notes and Mr Lyndsay then gave him either £5 or £10 and Butterworth ran off after a man shouted to the youths to leave the complainant alone.

The defendants were later arrested and Butterworth gave a breath test reading of 56 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath -- the legal limit is 35.

Mr Rankin said Nield said he had been very drunk and there was talk of: "Lets beat him up for a laugh."

Butterworth told police the talk about robbery was banter and he had left before demands for money were made.

John Chaplin, for Butterworth, said he felt shame and remorse bordering on disbelief at what he had got involved in and it was a mystery how a man of his type and character had put himself in the position he was in today.

The offence had shaken the family to the roots. His parents were thoroughly decent, hard working and responsible people.

Butterworth worked for his father who would struggle without him and was effectively a model youth. He played for Rossendale Rugby Club and had got in the first team when he was 17. He hoped in due course to have trials for Lancashire.

For Nield, Richard Orme handed the judge references including one from the Mayor of Rossendale Councillor Jimmy Eaton.

The barrister said the offence was totally and utterly out of character, committed on the spur of the moment. It was a moment's madness which would have dramatic consequences for all concerned.

Nield had got involved in the New Roots programme in Bacup, had made enquiries about a career in the Army and had had his head shaved for charity. He was a regular church goer and his behaviour had shocked everyone.

Mr Orme added the defendant's family was fearful at the prospect of him going to custody and detention would serve only to send out a public message. Nield was doing everything he possibly could to build a productive life.