A teenage boy was warned of being 'stabbed up' before having his bag stolen at a Greater Manchester bus station. The terrifying ordeal has been described by the youngster's mum after police released a CCTV image as part of their investigation.
She recalled how the 14-year-old, who the Manchester Evening News is not naming, had been waiting to catch a bus to Sale from Altrincham Interchange with his friend. There, he was accused of giving 'dirty looks' by the offender, before having to hand over his property.
She said: "He was with his friends walking to the bus stop. They were waiting for the bus and they were about to get on it.
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"This guy tapped him on the shoulder and said 'you've been giving me dirty looks'. My son's a quiet lad, he said 'I've not'.
"He took him to a secluded bit and said 'kids get stabbed up for this kind of s***... I want your bag'. My son said 'it's not mine, it's my brother's'. He said, 'I don't care, just give it to me'.
"My son's friend said it wasn't worth it and to just give him the bag. It's knocked me sick, you can't have any nice things as people want to take it off you."
This week, Greater Manchester Police released a CCTV image of someone they wish to speak to in connection with the incident. The ordeal took place at around 5.30pm on December 28, 2022.
The mum says her son, from Hale Barns in Trafford, did the right thing by handing over the bag - and she is relieved the situation was not more serious. "He's fine now thankfully," she said.
"It's never happened to him before and he's a bit more wary now. It's scary what goes on in the world.
"I would rather lose material stuff than anything else." Anyone who recognises the person in the CCTV image, or has information following the incident, is urged to contact GMP on 101 quoting crime number 06/MM/0022451/22.
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