A 19-YEAR-OLD thug who robbed a teenager after holding a knife at his throat has been locked-up for five years.

The terrified 16-year-old victim was walking to a chip shop when the knife-wielding youth ordered him to remove all his jewellery.

And today, as the attacker was behind bars, the mother of the young victim welcomed the sentence adding: "It just goes to show that these people cannot get away with it."

Thomas O'Neill, of Webster Street, was found guilty of robbery after a three-day trial at Bolton Crown Court.

O'Neill attacked the younger boy in Plodder Lane, Farnworth, last August.

He held a craft type knife to his throat and stole his necklace, bracelet, watch and ring.

Recalling the incident, the schoolboy victim said: "He put a knife to my throat. I had to hand the stuff over, what else could I do? At the end of the day I was only walking to the chippy to get something to eat.

"I am very happy with the result as it sends a strong message to other criminals that they will be caught and jailed."

The victim asked not to be identified.

But his mother said: "It was dreadful. It was just after 6pm. You do not expect anything like that to happen to your family and we are pleased about the outcome."

She said that the trial had been a frightening experience, adding: "You know this sort of thing goes on but it was still bad.

"You think your kids are safe and this just proves that people who do this sort of thing cannot get away with it."

O'Neill was sent to a Young Offenders Institute for five years.

The young victim's mother added: "It proves people like that are not above the law."