THREE teenagers set up an ambush to steal drugs from a dealer in a Hereford alleyway, a court heard.

The two boys and a girl, then aged 15, set up a meeting to lure the teenage dealer to a path off Church Road in Tupsley.

Nicholas Smith, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court the dealer was carrying a rucksack with £100 worth of cannabis and three ecstasy tablets when he arrived at the meeting place at 3.30pm on October 30, 2013.

He saw the girl and boy he had arranged to meet before two other boys he did not know walked past towards the quarry.

He thought nothing of it, but then they turned and ran back, Mr Smith said.

One was waving a knife and wearing a hoodie with the hood up and a scarf around his face. He told the dealer to give him the bag and said “I’m not joking” and grabbed it, knocking him to the ground.

The dealer was then kicked in the face and the two ran off.

Police later discovered there had been a plan and found text messages on the girl’s phone discussing with one of the boys luring the dealer to the alleyway and whether a knife should be used, Mr Smith said.

The three, who are now 16 and cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to robbery. No evidence was offered against the fourth.

One of the boys was given a twelve month detention and training order in a young offenders’ institution.

The other boy and girl got 12 month intensive referral orders.