A TEENAGER had a knife held to his throat by a robber wearing a "Scream" mask in a chilling incident in York.

The 16-year-old victim, Gavin Barker, was forced to hand over his wallet containing £100 when he stopped his bicycle at a junction in Rosedale Avenue, Acomb.

He was talking to a friend when he was attacked.

Gavin, of Danebury Drive, Acomb, said: "He (the attacker) just grabbed me and asked me for money. He had a knife to my throat and I thought if I don't give him my money he's going to kill me. He said to me not to tell anyone or say anything about what had happened. I was just really frightened."

Gavin rushed home and called the police. The money was from his wage, earned working in a local shop.

His guardian, Susan Allerston, said: "He was shaking, he was crying, he was extremely upset, £100 is a lot of money and he does work a lot of hours. You just don't expect anybody to grab your arm like that and put a knife to your throat."

Police said a teenager forced the youth's arm up behind his back and held a blade to his throat. The terrified youngster was not hurt.

It is thought to be the first time that this type of mask, which has been featured in the series of Hollywood horror films, has been used in this way in the city.

The teenager was cycling along Rosedale Avenue at about 6pm yesterday. He had stopped at the junction with Woodlea Avenue when he was grabbed from behind.

The attacker was about 5ft 10ins, tall and of a slim build. He was wearing a blue anorak, blue track suit bottoms with a white stripe down them and grey trainers. It is thought he was aged about 16.

Sergeant Colin Ventress, of York Police, said: "We are concerned about the level of violence used to carry out this attack."

In a separate incident a man was robbed at knifepoint as he walked along Walmgate in the city centre last night.

The 35-year-old man was threatened at about 6pm by a man with a shaved head who was holding a knife.

The victim handed over £160 in cash before his assailant ran down an alleyway next to the Blue Bicycle restaurant in Fossgate.

The man is described as white, roughly shaven with an unkempt beard, with a dark brown skinhead haircut. He was wearing a cream-coloured top with a hood and dark coloured trousers.

If anyone has any information they should phone York Police on 01904 631321.

Updated: 14:45 Tuesday, April 30, 2002