A DELIVERY driver had a knife held up to his throat by a gang of robbers moments after he had dropped off a pizza in Basildon, a horrified customer claims.

The driver was said to have been left badly shaken, with his motorbike and phone snatched by five men during the robbery. 

He had delivered a pizza to Kate Lennie, in Crouch Street, Noak Bridge, shortly after midnight on Thursday morning. 

But Kate says the driver started banging on her front door moments after making the delivery in a desperate cry for help. 

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“I opened up my food on the sofa, and around two minutes later my front was being banged on,” she said.

“I thought maybe something was wrong with the order.

“As I opened it the delivery driver was shaking saying ‘Can you call the company, my phone has been taken’.

“I was a bit confused at first, and he explained his motorbike, phone and money was taken by five men who put a knife to his throat.”

She added: “The police then arrived and spoke to me and the victim.

“Initially I was concerned answering the door being a woman, but my brother was with me, and we were just shocked that this happened on our doorstep.”

The alleged incident is thought to have occurred at 12.40am.

Kate admits the incident has also left her shocked, and she has been left to question her safety in her own neighbourhood. 

She said: “I have gone walking at night to clear my head sometimes and walk back from the Noak Bridge pub on my own, thinking ‘I am only around the corner, I am safe’.

“I don’t feel safe in other parts of Basildon, but now it has made me even question that, because people carry knives and also decide to take what doesn’t belong to you.”

Essex Police confirmed an investigation has been launched, but was unable to state whether any arrests had been made when contacted by the Echo.