A teenager stood and watched as another man stole a mobile phone worth more than £300 and then bought it for £20, a court heard.
Lincoln magistrates were told that the complainant had just bought it for £339.95 when he was approached by someone known to the youth.
“The youth was at the scene,” Jim Clare, prosecuting, said.
“The complainant was threatened by the other person who offered to fight him. This was done in full knowledge of the defendant.
“The man made off with the phone. He sold it to the youth for £20 and he accepted it knowing full well where it had come from.”
The complainant knew the identity of the man who took the phone and following enquiries, police went to the youth's address where the phone was recovered. It has since been returned to the owner.
The 18 year-old from Gainsborough admitted handling stolen goods on June 17.
Lloyd Edwards, representing, said the youth was not an associate of the other man. He was just someone the defendant knew and didn’t want to get on the wrong side of.
“He stupidly agreed to buy the phone and used it once knowing full well that this matter had been reported,” Mr Edwards said.
Magistrates imposed 60 hours of unpaid work and a 12 month community order.