A Southampton teenager faced 14 years in prison after he was found guilty in Supreme Court yesterday of a robbery involving personal violence.

Dwyia Victor Blyden, 18, of Riviera Crescent, was found guilty of robbing Justin Graham of two gold chains in Southampton on October 26.

Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller said Blyden approached Mr. Graham and asked whether he tried to have his cousin attacked.

Mr. Graham denied it but Blyden said not to give him any back talk.

A scuffle broke out and Blyden punched Mr. Graham in the face.

Blyden admitted to punching Mr. Graham, however, denied taking any jewellery.

Mr. Graham admitted he did not see Blyden take any of his jewellery but said he felt his gold chain and bracelet being removed.

Blyden fled the scene on a Honda RC bike and was not seen by his victim again until an encounter at the Paget Ice Queen restaurant.

Crown counsel Shakira Dill said Blyden offered to get Mr. Graham his chain back at the Ice Queen.

Ms Dill said Blyden was a very arrogant young man who was not scared of anybody.

?People say boys will be boys but where do we draw the line?? Ms Dill asked. ?There is too much of this going on. They all want to be bad boys.?

Ms Dill said aggravated robbery was an even more serious crime than robbery and the maximum sentence has been increased in the statutes from one of ten years imprisonment to a new maximum of 14 years imprisonment.

However, defence lawyer Anthony Richardson said Blyden only approached Mr. Graham at the Ice Queen because he wanted him to be reasonable and not take the case to court.

?He could go to jail for an offence he did not commit,? Mr. Richardson said.

And Mr. Richardson said the Crown?s case did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that his client had taken the chain and therefore Blyden should be acquitted.

?The reason Mr. Graham made the allegation was because he wanted to get back at him for punching him,? he said.

Puisne Judge Norma Wade-Miller highlighted several conflicts of evidence and as a result the credibility of the witnesses was vital.

Mrs. Justice Wade-Miller said the jury could find the defendant guilty of the lesser charge of common assault if they were not sure he committed robbery.

However, a four man, eight woman jury found Blyden guilty of robbery using personal violence by a unanimous verdict in less than three hours yesterday.

The judge remanded Blyden into custody until December 1 to await his pre-sentencing Social Inquiry Report.

Blyden appeared in court with his right eye swollen shut and his lawyer said he was attacked on Thursday night, however, this was not mentioned to the jury.