THREE teenagers are awaiting sentencing after being convicted of their roles in a robbery in Trowbridge earlier this year where two men were stabbed.

Ethan Bush, 18, of Chesterfield Road, in Mansfield, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty during a hearing at Salisbury Crown Court yesterday .

Bush pleaded guilty to armed robbery with a knife and the 17-year-old pleaded guilty to robbery.

A 16-year-old, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, had previously pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, robbery and possession of a bladed weapon.

All three have been remanded in custody ahead of sentencing on December 16.

The incident happened on the night of February 13 when the two victims, men in their 20s, had arranged to meet the three defendants in Biss Meadows to sell them drugs.

However, the meeting had actually been arranged with the intention of robbing the victims of their money and drugs.

During the robbery, which happened on the bridge between Biss Meadows and the Tesco supermarket in County Way, both victims were stabbed.

The case officer, CID Detective Constable Becky Taylor, said: “We know that this case caused understandable concern amongst the local community in Trowbridge and we hope that this successful conviction brings some reassurance that the police are working hard to solve these crimes and bring offenders to justice.

“This investigation is particularly shocking due to the young age of the three defendants.”

Acting Detective Sergeant Ted Roe, from CID, worked on the case as part of an operation set up to tackle knife crime and youth violence in the Trowbridge area.

He said: “It is important to note that this was not a random attack – it was targeted specifically against people that the trio knew to be selling drugs, and there is nothing to suggest there was any risk to the wider community.

“However, the level of violence that these three teenagers were willing to engage in is extremely worrying.

"Wiltshire Police is continuing to work hard with partner agencies to educate young people about the dangers of carrying knives.

“This is not something the police can do alone – we all need to work together to make our communities safer.”