A mum has described the moment her diabetic son feared he would be stabbed as he was robbed of his insulin kit in Blackheath.

Her 17-year-old son was violently assaulted by a thug, who grabbed him in a headlock and pulled him to the ground, before stealing his Armani bag containing his diabetes kit in Dursley Road at around 12.25pm on Sunday, December 27.

The mother, who has asked to remain anonymous to protect her son’s identity, said the attack has totally knocked his confidence and left him feeling anxious about going out.

As she appealed for witnesses to come forward, she told News Shopper: “My son is really nervous. He is really frightened of being attacked again by this person.

“He approached my son and started asking him if he was meeting somebody, which threw him off his guard.

“He asked, ‘What is in your bag?’ Then he just grabbed my son in a headlock and pulled him down onto the floor.

“Then he threatened him saying, ‘Don’t call out or I’m going to hurt your face.’

“First of all, my son was trying to keep hold of his bag but he was frightened he was going to get stabbed so he gave it up.”

The suspect grabbed the teenager’s shoulder bag, before running off towards Holburne Road.

News Shopper:

The items stolen in the robbery

The victim, who suffered neck injuries and concussion during the robbery, was taken to hospital for treatment and discharged later that day.

“He saved up for the bag with his birthday money. It’s because he has to carry the equipment around with him. He was so proud of it,” she added.

“It’s totally knocked him. It’s affected him quite a lot psychologically.

“But it’s not just my son that has been affected, I have sat there worrying too.

“It has had a knock-on effect on the whole family.”

The suspect is described as a white man with black hair, shaved around the back and sides and messy on top, aged between 20 and 22 years old and 5ft 10ins tall.

He wore a grey tracksuit and had a “distinctive, unclean smell”, police said.

Detective Constable Andrew Payne, from Greenwich CID, said: "This robbery affected the victim physically and emotionally.

“It was a violent attack against a young person in the street who had his medication stolen.

“If this is taken by a person it is not prescribed to it could cause serious adverse medical problems."

Anyone with information is asked to contact DC Payne on020 8284 9449, email andrew.payne@met.police.uk, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or at crimestoppers-uk.org.