A teenager has been handed a six-month detention and training order after being convicted of robbery in connection with an incident where a 15-year-old boy was threatened with acid and robbed of his coat in a fast-food shop on Brentwood High Street.

The 17-year-old, hailing from London, faced sentencing at Southend Youth Court on April 16. In addition to the detention order, he was also ordered to pay £500 in compensation to the victim.

According to Essex Police, the victim was approached by two individuals inside the fast-food establishment in February of last year. One of them brandished a bottle of acid, which was shown to the victim as proof of its contents, before demanding the boy’s coat.

In a statement to the court, the victim expressed the profound impact the incident had on him, stating, “I struggled to sleep every night because the incident kept replaying in my head vividly. I felt as though I was blaming myself and felt guilty for what had happened to me.”

The convicted teenager, whose identity remains protected due to his age, was apprehended on March 8 of this year. Despite denying the charge of robbery, he was found guilty following a trial.

Detective Constable Joshua Yelland emphasized the severity of the offence, highlighting the fear and panic such actions can instil in the community, particularly in a young victim. He commended the victim for his courage in coming forward and enduring the court process, stating, “Support was in place for him from the start of our investigation, and I would praise his patience and maturity in sticking with us through the court process.