Girl, 15, threatened by knifeman in Palacefields (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Girl, 15, threatened by knifeman in Palacefields

11:45am Friday 27th January 2012 in News By Barbara Jordan

A TERRIFIED schoolgirl was threatened by a knifeman as she walked home in Runcorn, detectives revealed today.

The 15-year-old noticed a man walking behind her as she approached a retirement home in Dorset Gardens, Palacefields.

He overtook her and suddenly pointed a knife at her, demanding her mobile phone.

The victim screamed loudly, threw her phone on the ground and ran off.

The robber picked it up and fled towards The Uplands.

The girl approached a member of the public who called the police.

DC Anthony Sullivan said: "The victim was not injured as a result of the incident but she was understandably left shaken by the ordeal.

“We take all incidents of this nature extremely seriously and will do all we can to trace the offender.

"We are appealing for anyone who witnessed the incident or was in the area at the time and may have seen anyone acting suspiciously to get in touch.

"We are also keen to hear from anyone who has any information regarding the identity of the offender."

Before the attack, the girl had noticed a gang of young men near the flats at The Knoll.

The offender is described as white, in his late teens, of slim build and was wearing a navy blue tracksuit top and dark tracksuit bottoms.

He had a pale complexion with a triangular shaped mark above the right hand side of his top lip.

The robbery happened at 9.45pm on Monday, January 23.

Anyone with any information can call Cheshire Police on 101.