A 12-year-old knife-wielding robber wept as he was convicted at Swindon Crown Court on Friday.

The youngster, who cannot be named for legal reasons, threatened a fellow 12-year-old with a swiss army knife and stole £10.

But he claimed he had sold a computer gun accessory to his victim and that the money had exchanged hands with no threat of violence what-sover.

But the youngster said that he had been threatened and felt he had no choice but to hand over £10.

The court had been told how the two had crossed paths on August 29 in Southampton Street at 3.20pm.

Toby Halliwell, prosecuting, asked the victim how he had been threatened.

"He held it up near to my throat. He checked my pockets and turned them inside out," he said.

Marcus Davey, defending, said his client had maintained his innocence all along.

Mr Davey told the jurors his client had spent around eight hours in custody and been subjected to two late-night interviews. Despite that, he stuck to the same line, that of his innocence.

Judge John McNaught said the Youth Court would be the appropriate place for sentencing.