BOY , 13 , THREATENED WITH KNIFE IN ROBBERY

POLICE are investigating after a child had his bike stolen after being threatened with a knife in Coventry.

The 13-year-old was on Guardhouse Road in Radford with his bike when the thief put him in a headlock and told him he had a knife.

The offender took the bike from the boy before making his escape. A police investigation is underway.

A spokesman for West Midlands Police said: “We are investigating a robbery on Guardhouse Road, Coventry which took place just after 6.30pm on Tuesday (16 February). A 13-year-old boy was placed in a headlock and threatened by the offender, who claimed he had a knife and made off with the boy’s bicycle. No weapons were seen and no injuries were sustained.

“Anyone with information can contact us via live chat on our website or by calling 101. Please quote crime reference number 20CV/45579F/21.”

Knife crime has been as issue in the region in the past year.

A 14-year-old boy was seriously injured after being stabbed in Wood End earlier this month and a boy was threatened at knife point just after Christmas for his electric scooter. There has also been fatal stabbings.

Labour leader Keir Starmer recently told the Telegraph: “Our youth services in the West Midlands have been cut harder than anywhere else in the country - 80 per cent cut in funding over the last 10 years. That’s criminal.”

Mr Starmer said we also need to ask why so many young people “end up on the street when they are teenagers” and once we know the answers to that we “can start dealing with knife crime in Coventry and other places.”