A MOTHER has spoken of the "horrific" robbery of her teenage son as he left V-Festival last weekend.
The 17-year-old from Great Baddow was leaving Hylands Park on August 17 when he was approached by a man who demanded he give up his mobile phone.
The attacker, who is believed to be of mixed heritage and spoke with a foreign accent, then pulled a knife out on the terrified teen who quickly handed over his iPhone 5 and £10 in cash while a second assailant acted as a look out.
"You always think it's going to happen to someone else," said the victim's mother, who wished to remain anonymous.
"It's left him really shaken up and me too, you kiss your children goodbye and you never realise it might be the last time you see them.
"He works really hard and earns only a very small amount of money which he used to pay the contract on that phone, he should be able to take it out and make a phone call without something like that happening."
The teen, who is training as a motor sports engineer, had left the festival at around 4.30pm and was walking down the A414 at Writtle when he moved away from his group of friends to make a call to his sister.
He had noticed the two robbers chatting and attempted to walk quickly past but was stopped by one of the men, believed to be between 25 and 30, who told him he had "five seconds to give up his phone" while holding a blade at his side.
"I've always told him when something like that happens to just give up his stuff, nothing is more important than his life, and that's what he did," added the Chelmsford mother.
"He then came straight home and we reported it to the police. He's a typical 17-year-old and says it hasn't affected him but at the end of day I think it would play on anyone's mind."
Police have now released an e-fit image depicting the key suspect in the case who is described as being of mixed heritage, with a stubbly face and wearing a black baseball cap, navy t-shirt, black long-sleeved zip-up jacket, blue jeans and black trainers.
The second man was also clean shaven and wore a short sleeved white T-shirt, black tracksuit bottoms and white trainers. He was also carrying a black bag.
Anyone who can identify either of the men should contact Pc Jennifer McLean at Chelmsford CID on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
