Schoolboy told 'your life is worth more than this bike'
A schoolboy has recounted a harrowing incident where he was threatened with a knife and forced to hand over his bike to thieves. The 15 year old, who had just left the gym on Tuesday night, described how the assailants, believed to be in their 20s, menacingly told him "your life is worth more than this bike.
He claimed they then ordered him to "run" or risk being stabbed. The teenager's mother, Sam Hughes, shared the distressing details of her son's ordeal, explaining that he was visibly shaking as he recounted the event.
Sam, aged 35, said: "My son is 15. He was on his way home from the gym with his friend. He had been riding his bike slowly because his friend was walking. They had gone down Rotten Row in Southport and turned onto Weld Road, near The Fishermen's Rest pub." You can sign up to our regular Crime and Punishment newsletter here
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"My son said they saw two boys about the same height as him - he is quite tall - coming towards them. As they got a bit closer he said he thought maybe they were a bit older than him, in their 20s and they said to him 'give us your bike.'".
"He stood there and they grabbed the handlebars and said 'your life is worth more than this bike.' The other person got hold of something under his arm towards his chest. My son has thought that he has a knife and got off his bike. One of them [the thieves] got on his bike and the other lad pushed him to the ground.", reports the Liverpool Echo.
"They said 'run away now before I stab you.' My son and his friend ran. They kept looking behind them because they were unsure if they were coming. They ran and hid in a garden and dialled 999."
"They said 'run away now before I stab you.' My son and his friend ran. They kept looking behind them because they were unsure if they were coming. They ran and hid in a garden and dialled 999."
Sam says her son was "shaking" when he told her what happened. She said: "It was so scary for him. When he came home he was as white as a sheet, he was trembling, his whole body was shaking."
"He only knew half of what happened, he had no memory because he was in so much shock. He didn't even remember them pushing him, it was his friend who said he pushed him, he had no idea that he was on the ground. He didn't really understand what was going on."
"I'm just so glad he didn't fight back, he did the right thing. He is terrified. I couldn't believe it, I couldn't get my head around it. After what happened in Southport I can't understand it. I'm so glad my son didn't take the risk, I'm just glad he has lost the bike and not his life. I'm so glad he didn't put up a fight."
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "Detectives are appealing for information following a robbery in Southport last night, Tuesday 17 September. At around 10.10pm, officers were called to Weld Road at the junction with Westcliffe Road, near to The Fisherman's Rest restaurant, to reports of two males on bikes approaching a 15-year-old boy who was in company with a friend."
"One of the suspects made threats and stole the bike, described a blue Nuke Proof Scout mountain bike. No weapon was seen. The suspects are described as white, both in their early 20s. The first was one was wearing a grey coat with no hood, with brown and black hair, and black bottoms and riding a purple bike. The second was wearing a grey coat with the hood up, black trousers, of tall and slim build, and possibly had a beard. They made off towards Rotten Row towards Coastal Road. The boys were left extremely shaken but uninjured and an investigation is ongoing."
Detective Inspector Paul McVeigh said: "This incident left both boys understandably frightened and we are supporting them as enquiries continue. Although no weapon was seen or used, threats were made and we are determined to find those responsible and put them before the courts."
"If you live in the area or were passing by and saw or may have captured anything, please contact us now with any CCTV, dashcam or other devices and we will do our utmost to remove these people from the community."
Contact police on @MerPolCC, 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 with reference 24000802071 with any information.
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