A TEENAGER last night told how he was robbed of his mini-disc player in a daytime attack by two youths, and then punched when he asked the thugs to hand it back.

The 16-year-old Darlington youth suffered broken teeth and a black eye in the attack.

The pair approached him from behind as he walked along a busy road.

Now he says he is afraid to walk through the streets alone.

The theft has also deprived the teenager of a disc containing his own music compositions, which he had hoped to have published.

He became aware of the two youths as he walked along Abbey Road, from the top of Duke Street, towards Cleveland Avenue.

One of the youths asked him for a cigarette, but he told them he did not smoke and they carried on walking.

He said: "I thought 'Thank God for that', but they were only a few feet ahead of me."

Still concerned, he walked slower to let them get further ahead, but that did not work.

The pair then asking about the mini-disc player, which was worth £150, before one of them grabbed it and started to walk off.

"When I tried to take it back, his mate thumped me," said the youth, who asked not to be named.

Since the robbery, which happened at about 2.45pm on Wednesday, near the junction of Abbey Road and Cleveland Avenue in Darlington, the teenager says he is afraid to walk the streets, and visiting the doctor's surgery, just a short distance from his home, has become difficult.

"I find it hard just walking up the road," he said, adding that having to walk along the same road in which the attack took place was upsetting.

The youth who snatched the mini-disc player is described as white, about 17, with short, dark hair.

He was wearing a distinctive light blue rugby shirt, with a white collar and cuffs. He also wore dark blue tracksuit bottoms and had a cream and blue Fred Perry anorak tied around his waist.

His attacker, who was of similar age, about 5ft 10in, and skinny, with short, dark hair, was wearing dark blue jeans and tan boots.

Anyone with information about the robbery can contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.