TWO teenage boys who had been fishing on the banks of St Helens Canal were threatened and intimidated by two youths who stole £5.

The victims, aged 15 and 13, were just finishing off a morning's fishing at the side of the canal near to the former steel works on Todd Road, St Helens, on Saturday, February 6, when the youths approached them.

One of the offenders twisted a leg off a tackle box belonging to the 15-year-old before threatening to beat him up and throw him in the canal if he didn't hand over his money.

The terrified teenager handed over a £5 note and explained that the money was for his bus fare home, but the offender snatched it from him and then grabbed his coat to check that there was no money in the pockets. After getting the money the two offenders walked off.

The one who threatened the boy and took the money is described as 19 or 20 years, 6ft tall with medium build, short, scruffy brown hair brushed forward and clean shaven. He was wearing a waist-length black leather jacket zipped up the front with red paint on one sleeve, black jeans and dirty, white trainers. He spoke with a local accent.

The second youth (pictured in this police computer likeness) was 5ft 11in tall and aged about 18 with a stocky build and had a round face with a small moustache and short brown hair with his fringe poking from beneath a dark-blue woollen hat. He was also wearing dark-blue tracksuit bottoms (shellsuit material) and an England top, and spoke with a Liverpool accent.

Anyone able to help police with their inquiries can contact DC Jacky Fitzpatrick at St Helens police station on 0151 777 6064, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.