A BRAINTREE teenager has admitted robbing a boy at knifepoint in a pedestrian underpass.

The 15-year-old victim was robbed in Netteswell Orchard, Harlow, on May 8 this year. 

He was approached by 19-year-old Ellis Brown, who drew a large Rambo-style knife and ordered his victim to hand over his possessions.

After the boy attempted to flee, Brown gave chase, shouting for him to drop his bag on the floor.

The victim dumped his bag and Brown picked it up, before fleeing the scene.

The bag contained the victim’s phone and a two-figure sum of cash.

Officers attended and carried out immediate enquiries, circulating CCTV images of the suspect, interviewing the victim and identifying witnesses.

Brown, of Beadon Drive, Braintree, was arrested on July 10 as a result of a stop and search.

He was charged with robbery and possession of a knife in a public place, charges he admitted at a hearing at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on July 12.

He has been remanded in custody until a sentencing hearing due to be held at Chelmsford Crown Court on August 8.

Police say they are continuing work to drive down 'high-harm' crime, including offences such as robbery, violence and burglary.

In Harlow, high-harm crime is down 12 per cent year-on-year, with 1,635 offences recorded in the 12 months to date.

Constable Sara Jacobs, of Harlow CID, said: “We have a zero tolerance approach for offences of this nature in Harlow and wider Essex.

“Robbery is a terrifying crime and bringing down knife-enabled offending is a force-wide priority.

“We know we can’t eradicate knife crime in our county alone, and it is a challenge we continue to tackle alongside education and criminal justice partners, but we demonstrably play our part in taking weapons off our streets and catching offenders.

“This was an awful offence carried out against a child and I would praise his mature attitude and patience in supporting our investigation.”