Knife warning as teen has crucial iPad stolen on bus

Nathan Webster, 16, was travelling home from college and using the 90-minute journey to study on his iPad when he was threatened by the stranger who demanded the electronic tablet.

The Apple device was stolen by the boy, who told the Blackpool Sixth Form student he had a knife after he refused to give up the equipment.

Now the teen is appealing for the iPad, which had seven months of revision and essays from his A-Level courses on, to be returned to him.

He said: “It would mean a lot to get it back, all my coursework is on there and there’s a possibility I could fail things because I’ve not got that work.

“I’ve never had a problem on the bus before but he said he had a knife, it was scary, a knife can kill you.”

The incident happened at around 12.40pm on March 7, at the back of the top deck of the number 11 bus from Blackpool to St Annes, travelling along St Annes Road West.

The boy then left the bus in the square in St Annes.

PCSO Oli Boardman said: “Mr Webster has been left extremely shaken up by his ordeal and the fact it contains seven months of college work is more important to him than the iPad itself.

“I would appeal to anybody that has any information about this theft or the whereabouts of the iPad to contact police.”

A 17-year-old boy from Blackpool has been arrested on suspicion of robbery and is on police bail, however the stolen iPad remains missing.

Nathan, from St Annes, travels on two buses to get to and from the college on Blackpool Old Road each day, where he is studying for A-Levels in English literature, ancient history, modern history and a BTEC in sport.

He said he uses the time to revise and work on essays.

Bosses at the college have said they have support in place to ensure Nathan does not fall behind.

A spokesman added: “This will have been a very upsetting incident but we are confident he will not be disadvantaged.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101.