Thurrock Boy is victim of terrifying attack by phone robber at Lakeside

A SCHOOLBOY was grabbed by the throat and robbed of his mobile in a terrifying attack.

The 12-year-old boy was sitting on a bench outside McDonald’s at Thurrock’s Lakeside shopping centre when the attack happened.

He was grabbed around the throat by the robber, an older boy, who grabbed his Sony Ericsson K850 phone before fleeing.

The phone was worth £300.

The victim was left shaken but uninjured following the attack.

Police are now appealing for witnesses to come forward in a bid to catch the robber.

Laura Anderson of Thurrock police said: "This was a very frightening ordeal for the youngster.

“He was grabbed around the throat and robbed of his mobile.

"The area would have been busy at the time, particularly around McDonald's where the attack took place, so someone must have seen this incident.

“They may also have seen the robber himself in the moments before the attack or fleeing the scene.”

"We would like to hear from them as soon as possible so we can arrested this boy and take him off the streets."

The attacker is described as a white man aged between 14 and 16 and he wore a hooded top.

Witnesses to the attack, which happened at 7.30pm on Friday, October 31, is asked to contact police at Thurrock on 0300 333 4444 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 1111.