A Belfast mother has issued a warning to parents after her 13-year-old son and his friend were allegedly mugged in broad daylight on their way home from school.
The alleged incident happened in the residential Churchill Street area of the city, off the Antrim Road, on Friday.
Mum Kelly said her son's friend, a 13-year-old girl, had her phone snatched from her hand and her son was "shoved up against a fence".
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Police say a man in his 20s has been charged with robbery, theft and criminal damage and is due to appear in Laganside Magistrates' Court on Monday.
Kelly, speaking to Belfast Live, said: "We are shocked that this has happened in our area.
"We want to keep our kids safe in the area and make sure everyone is aware of the dangers around. They can't even walk the short distance from the bus stop to home.
"This happened within a stone's throw from my mum's house where my son was going home."
She said her son is unhurt physically but "obviously frightened" by what happened.
A spokesperson for the PSNI said: "Officers investigating a reported robbery in the Churchill Street area of Belfast on Friday, 2nd June, have charged a man to court.
"The 24-year-old has been charged with robbery, theft and criminal damage.
"The man has also been charged with possession of a Class C controlled drug, criminal damage and common assault following the report of a further matter at business premises on the Antrim Road on the same date."
The spokesperson added: "He is due to appear before Laganside Magistrates Court on Monday, 5th June. As is usual procedure, all charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service."
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