Teenager speaks out after being robbed at Slades Farm

Fourteen-year-old Nathanael Cutts, a pupil at Glenmoor and Winton Academies, was robbed of his school bag at knifepoint in the woods at Slades Farm by a balaclava wearing male at around 4pm last Monday (March 14).

The youngster was uninjured but left “shaken” by the incident which happened in broad daylight.

Less than a week later, Nathanael and his father spoke to the Daily Echo about the experience amid a spate of similar incidents in the Bournemouth area.

• Read more: Child pulled into a subway and robbed by boys with a knife

Nathanael said: “I was on my way home from school when someone just came up on a Beryl scooter, parked it in front of me and pulled out a knife. He started waving it towards me and told me to drop my bag on the floor and go.

“So I did, I dropped it on the floor and went. I wasn’t going to risk getting stabbed. Lots of people might say they would have fought back, but if you’re not in that situation you don’t know how you would react.”

The woods at Slades Farm in Bournemouth

The robber was wearing a black balaclava, a full black Nike tracksuit with white Air Force trainers and was in possession of a Swiss army knife with a four-inch blade.

“I was just trying to deal with the situation as quickly as possible, I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to say the wrong thing,” recalled Nathanael, who suffers from ADHD.

“It’s really not worth risking getting yourself injured because it could lead to something much worse than just getting your bag stolen.”

Luckily, Nathanael’s phone and wallet were not in the bag, with it only containing his uniform and some school books.

He quickly rode his bike home to tell his father what happened. Mr Cutts said: “He was stood in the doorway and was absolutely white as a sheet. I wouldn’t say he was shaking, but you could see he was shaken.”

An officer was sent to their home in Bournemouth to take a statement.

A dog walker later found Nathanael’s emptied bag close to where the incident happened. They then took the bag and his belongings to the school.

The woods at Slades Farm in Bournemouth

His father added: “He did absolutely everything correct in the situation he was put in. That’s the first thing that came out my mouth when he told me, I said you did the right thing.

• Read more: Teenager robbed at knifepoint at Slades Farm

“I’ve got nothing but pride for his attitude and how he approached the entire situation, so I know I’m doing something right.”

He then turned to his son and said: “You’re a bit of a rock, aren’t you?”

Nathanael concluded: “It’s something I do still think about but it doesn’t worry me anymore because I know it will be sorted in time. I’d say if you have to bring a knife to a fight, you shouldn’t be fighting.”

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “Enquiries are underway and no arrests have been made at this time. Officers can be approached by any members of the public with information about this incident or concerns they may have.”