A 19-YEAR-OLD teen from Braintree has been arrested for robbing a 15-year-old at knifepoint as the victim's mum says they cannot praise Essex Police enough.

The teenage victim had been cycling through an underpass near Netteswell Orchardin Harlow, accompanied by a friend, on May 8 when a man approached with a large “Rambo-style knife” and threatened the pair.

After the boy attempted to flee, the man gave chase, shouting for the boy to drop his bag on the floor who discarded bag.

Officers attended and carried out immediate enquiries, sharing CCTV stills of the suspect, interviewing the victim, and identifying witnesses.


On July 9, the man – a 19-year-old called Ellis Brown - was spotted on CCTV in Braintree town centre appearing to engage in a drug deal. 

Mr Brown was stopped by an officer out on foot patrol the following day with an amount of cannabis, several wraps of crack cocaine and a mobile phone in his possession - all of which were seized. 

Mr Brown was arrested and charged with robbery, possession of a knife in a public place, possession with intent to supply a Class A drug and possession of cannabis. 

Ellis Brown, of Beadon Drive, Braintree, appeared for sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court on September 6 after pleading guilty to all charges against him.

He was also sentenced for a previous robbery he committed in Witham in August 2023, whereby he threatened another victim with a flick knife before stealing his coat. 

Mr Brown was sentenced to a total of four years’ detention in a young offender institution. 

The mother of the teenage victim in the Harlow robbery, who asked to remain anonymous to protect her son’s identity, said: “I can’t praise Harlow Police enough - we were updated regularly throughout the case.
 

“People had said to me, ‘He won’t be caught, you won’t hear anything back’. 

“They have been proven wrong. Throughout the case they made sure [my son] was okay, they made sure we as a family were okay.”

The mum added: “The person who did this to my son is still so young. To do this kind of thing, just for a phone, is it really worth it? 

“I’m glad he got caught and I’m glad he got the sentence he did, but I truly hope he learns from this. 

“I hope he learns that this isn’t a way of life – you can’t behave like this all for taking someone’s mobile phone. 

“He risked his own life in a way that day. If he’d done that to someone who also had a knife, it could have ended badly. 

“I don’t know him and I don’t know his background, but I hope maybe he realises the gravity of what he’s done.”