A knifeman who found his teenager victim was penniless

stole the shirt off his back in a late-night attack.

The 16-year-old was forced to return home without his £40 Ben Sherman after the thief's attack on Monday night in the Denes area of Darlington.

As he walked near Widdowfield Street, at about 10pm, the youth was approached by the thief, who was aged between 16 and 18.

Detective Constable Peter Eddy, of Darlington police, said: "He pulled a knife on the boy and demanded money from him.

"The lad told him he didn't have any money, so he made him take off his shirt."

As well as the purple and mauve shirt, the thief also took a Jimmy White Cueball Playstation game before disappearing into the darkness.

The thief was described as white, between 5ft 3in and 5ft 5in, of medium build, and with a local accent.

He was thought to be wearing a dark coloured fleece jacket and dark baseball cap.

Anyone with information about the attack is asked to contact Darlington police on (01325) 467681 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.