ONLY one member of an armed gang who robbed children at knifepoint in a park has been jailed.

Carl Wood, 21, of no fixed abode, admitted robbing an Apple iWatch and pushbike from two 15-year-old boys at knifepoint in Chalkwell Park on London Road.

He was jailed for two years at Basildon Crown Court on Friday.

Scott Taylor, 20, of Leighwood Avenue, Leigh, admitted robbery and receiving stolen goods, with a 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitting robbery and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place.

The incident took place on February 25.

Mark Hansley, prosecuting, told the court a gang of people had surrounded the two boys in the park at 6pm.

He said: “One of the complainants described Wood as the ringleader and main offender.

“He brandished a knife at them, and instructed his friends to take the Apple iWatch and bracelet from them, with Taylor taking it from them.

“The 16-year-old took the push bike after showing him a knife that had a four inch blade.

“Wood then told the two teenagers to stand up against the wall, before he took a picture of them on a mobile phone, and told them not to go to the police as he knew what they looked like.”

Mr Hansley said the pair reported it to the police who then traced the trio from the descriptions, resulting in the now-smashed iWatch, bracelet and push bike being recovered and the three arrested.

He added: “The victim has said he is too scared to leave the house, having not left since the incident, and his education, learning and his social life is suffering.

“He has also deleted his social media as he fears he could be traced and found by the defendants.”

The court heard the gang had taken many steps to improve themselves whilst in custody and out on bail, showed remorse for what they had done and did not want to repeat the crime.

Taylor has been on bail, whilst Wood has been in custody since his arrest last year, and the 17-year-old since July.

Judge Ian Graham said the trio had committed “very serious offences”, sentencing Wood to two years in prison and handing him a restraining order meaning he cannot contact the victims for five years.

Scott Taylor received 18 months in prison suspended for two years, and must carry out 250 hours unpaid work and 50 days of rehabilitation.

The 17-year-old received a two year youth rehabilitation order, 150 hours unpaid work and will be subject to a curfew between 9pm and 7am for the two years.