JUST five days after being released from custody for several robberies, Joseph Samuel was back committing serious violent offences. On four days he committed robberies with the threat of a knife, and assaults at or near railway stations in Hitchin, Letchw

JUST five days after being released from custody for several robberies, Joseph Samuel was back committing serious violent offences.

On four days he committed robberies with the threat of a knife, and assaults at or near railway stations in Hitchin, Letchworth GC and Stevenage.

He also got into a hostel to attack a man with a golf club, and chased and stabbed another youth in Letchworth GC causing a life threatening injury to his liver.

Then, while on remand in prison, he attacked and kicked a teacher.

The worrying catalogue of violence led Judge Geoffrey Breen to say: "It is my view that, unless there is appropriate psychiatric intervention which is successful, you are likely to remain a danger for a very long time to come.

"You, yourself, acknowledge that you present a risk. Two psychiatrists agree you have a psychopathic disorder and you are anxious to receive appropriate psychiatric intervention but unfortunately there is no suitable bed available for you, and that position is unlikely to change."

The judge said he would have liked Samuel, who is only just 18, to be assessed at the dangerous and severe personality disorder unit at Broadmoor Hospital, but that could not be done prior to him being sentenced.

After ordering an indefinite sentence for public protection at Luton Crown Court on Tuesday, the judge said he hoped that could now be considered.

Samuel was 16 when he was sentenced to 42 months for a string of offences.

He was released on licence on October 14, 2005, and housed in Sollershott East, Letchworth GC. His new offences began five days later.

Samuel pleaded guilty to wounding with intent, two robberies, aggravated burglary and two assaults causing actual bodily harm. He asked for a similar assault and an attempted robbery to be taken into consideration.

Lawrence Selby, defending, said: "He has had an exceptionally difficult upbringing to put it mildly and the way he has reacted to it is hardly surprising.

"He accepts he is a danger and is crying out for help, but that help is not available to him at the moment through circumstances out of his control."

Judge Breen passed a sentence for public protection, which is indefinite. After five years the parole board will consider Samuel's suitability for release.

After release, he will be on licence for a minimum of 10 years and possibly the rest of his life.