A 23-YEAR-OLD mugger threatened to stab a 14-year-old girl after a male friend had fled, a court heard.

Jacob Chambers, 23, cycled up to the young couple while they were sitting in a park in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, with friends.

He confronted and grabbed the 16-year-old boy but he and another teenager, also 16, both ran off, leaving two 14-year-old girls they had been with behind.

As the boys fled, Chambers, of Mattock Close, Headington, yelled back that he would stab the young girls, before he went on to steal cash from one of them.

Jonathan Stone, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court on Monday that the teenager had been in the Airfield near Blackbird Leys, Oxford, when they were approached by Chambers, at about 9.30pm on August 3.

“He approached (the boy) first of all, (the girl) said she saw the defendant grab him around the neck,” said Mr Stone.

“He didn’t say anything, just grabbed him.

“She was very surprised.

“There was no reason for the assault.”

The boy then pushed Chambers away, before the two teenage boys fled, leaving the girls sat on the bench.

“The defendant shouted after them, ‘I’m going to shank your girls,” said Mr Stone.

“I believe shank is a street slang word for stab.”

Chambers demanded that the girls give him their phones and when they said they did not have one made one girl hand over £10.

Mr Stone said: “He had what looked like a knife up his left sleeve, the male did not take the knife out, I can’t describe it, she says.”

Chambers did not threaten the girls with the knife, and it was never recovered.

“It was only described as a silver tip of a knife, possibly emerging from a coat sleeve,” said Lucy Tapper, defending.

“There is no description of the knife and no knife was ever found.”

Chambers looked nervous as he prepared to give his plea as each charge was put to him.

He wore a cream polo shirt and a necklace, his beard and sideburns neatly trimmed.

He admitted one count of robbery, one of attempted robbery, having an article with a blade or point in public, and common assault.

Chambers pleaded not guilty to a further count of attempted robbery, which Mr Stone asked to remain on file.

Judge Patrick Eccles agreed to adjourn the case so that a pre-sentence report could be prepared.

However, the judge indicated that Chambers could expect to serve two years behind bars following his guilty plea.

“Come back to court on November 12 to face sentence,” he said.

Chambers was remanded in custody.