A MAN was stabbed in the buttock, after refusing to hand over his iPod to robbers.

The 24-year-old and a 17-year-old friend were walking through Chesterford Gardens, Basildon, when a car pulled up alongside.

A man inside wound down the window and asked the pedestrians what they were looking at.

Then, without warning, three men got out and began frisking both victims. One of the gang produced a flickknife and ordered the terrified 17-year-old boy to hand over his mobile, which he did.

The robber then waved the blade in the face of the other man and ordered him to hand over his iPod.

He refused and the attacker stabbed him in the buttock before grabbing the music player and driving off in the car with the other two.

Insp Steve Ditchburn, of Pitsea police, said: “This was a shocking and violent incident in which a youngster was actually stabbed for his iPod.

“Thankfully this boy was not seriously injured, but the outcome could have been very different.

“We have good descriptions of the robbers, so if you recognise them, do the right thing and turn them in.

“Essex Police will not tolerate knife crime of any sort and we want to take the people who commit these crimes off the streets.”

The victim was given stitches to a minor stab wound.

The robbers were all white men, aged about 19.

The one with the knife was thin, with light brown hair and dressed in a light-coloured tracksuit.

One of the others was also slim with brown hair and the third man was bigger, with long dark hair dressed in a dark blue tracksuit.

Witnesses to the robbery, at 5.40am on Saturday, can contact detectives at Pitsea CID on 0300 3334444.