DETECTIVES investigating the knifepoint robbery of a teenage boy in Harlow have secured a conviction against the culprit.

On Wednesday 8 May this year, a 15-year-old boy was robbed in a pedestrian underpass in Netteswell Orchard, Harlow.

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 the boy to drop his bag on the floor.

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

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

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

Following this work, Brown, of Beadon Drive, Braintree, was later arrested on Wednesday 10 July 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 Friday 12 July.

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

Police are continuing our work to drive down high-harm crime – including offences like robbery, violence with injury and burglary.

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 of 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.”