A SCHOOLBOY who robbed fellow pupils of their iPads at knifepoint has been told he will lose his freedom.

Following a three-day trial at Bolton Crown Court, a jury found Mohammed Hussain guilty of two counts of robbery and a further two offences of possessing a knife in public.

The court heard how Hussain, who was aged 16 at the time of the robberies in April last year, was a pupil at the Essa Academy.

Paul McDonald, prosecuting, told how, even though he was a pupil there, Hussain was on a restricted timetable which meant he only had to attend the Lever Edge Lane building for a few hours a day and was taught separately from the main classes.

Like the rest of the pupils at the school, he was provided with an iPad.

The jury heard how, on Friday April 17 last year, a 12-year-old fellow pupil left the school to walk home.

But as he reached the junction of Morris Green Lane and Hurst Street Hussain walked up to him, pulled a brown handled knife from his pocket and held it against the terrified boy's throat.

Hussain demanded the schoolboy's iPad, took his bag from his shoulders and removed the device before running off towards St Helens Road.

The victim recognised his attacker as someone who went to the same school, but did not know his name and his father contacted the school.

On the Monday staff showed the schoolboy a selection of unnamed pictures of older pupils at the school.

The boy pointed out Hussain, shouting: "That's him, that's him that did it!"

However, the same day Hussain committed his second robbery, this time targetting an 11-year-old pupil.

The boy was walking home from school at 3.40pm behind Uganda Street, Bolton when he was approached by Hussain.

This time the older boy grabbed his victim by the arm, dragged him down an alleyway, put a knife to his throat and then stole his school iPad.

Police were informed and arrested Hussain at his Mancroft Avenue, Great Lever, home.

When questioned he denied being the robber, claiming he was at home at the time of the robberies, but both victims were able to pick him out in a video identification parade.

In court the 11-year-old victim gave evidence via a video link, but the jury were only able to see a recorded video interview with the 12-year-old boy as he has since left the area with his family and police have been unable to trace him.

As the jury returned their verdicts, bearded 17-year-old Hussain, who now works in a takeaway, stood emotionless in the dock.

Recorder Nicholas Clarke QC adjourned the case to allow reports to be prepared, but he warned that the teenager will be locked up when he is sentenced on May 27.

"He must anticipate that on the next occasion he will face a lengthy custodial sentence," said Recorder Clarke.

In the meantime Hussain was granted bail and will be subject to an 8pm to 7am electronically tagged curfew.

"It is an act of mercy intended to allow you to make arrangements within the family," the recorder told Hussain.