A trio of 16-year-olds have denied using a fake gun and committing an armed robbery in New Malden earlier this year.

Two Surbiton youths and another from Kingston, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded not guilty at Kingston Crown Court on Tuesday, March 17, to robbery and possession of a handgun.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) had previously told the court how, on January 17, an imitation handgun was passed between a group of youths in their bid to steal cash and mobile phones from a group of 14- to 17-year-olds.

Carmel Ashby, from the CPS, said: “One of the attackers was holding a black handgun. The victims suffered a terrible ordeal.

“The gun was transferred between the parties while the robbery was taking place. There was no cash, but when the gun was help to one boy’s neck they offered to go home and get some.”

One of the youths was remanded in custody until the completion of the trial at Kingston Crown Court, which begins on June 7.