Teen threatened to stab worker

A TEENAGER armed with a knife threatened to stab a worker at a petrol station for trying to stop him from stealing alcohol.

The 16-year-old defendant, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was armed with a Stanley knife when he began taking crates of lager from the Esso garage in Pontypool at around 9.30pm on October 27.

He initially stole a crate of Corona beers before returning to the store and saying: “I want drugs” before demanding a bottle of rum. When the worker asked for his ID he made his way to the back of the store and began taking cans of cider.

He was approached by the store employee who again asked him for ID but the teenager responded: “Don’t touch me, I am going to stab you.”

A sentencing hearing at Newport Crown Court on Tuesday heard the 16-year-old then proceeded to brandish an eight-inch Stanley knife from his pocket before pointing it at the shop worker who walked behind the counter and called the police.

Officers attended the scene and traced the defendant to the car park of Pontypool leisure centre where he and a group of youths appeared to be intoxicated. He was arrested after a brief struggle and told officers: “I knew I was going to get locked up anyway because I done armed robbery. The man was sound. I feel bad - I was a c***.”

The 16-year-old later pleaded guilty to robbery and possession of a blade.

In mitigation Jeffrey Jones said the youth suffered with a number of mental disorders and was being supported by his family and a social worker.

The defendant was sentenced to a youth rehabilitation order for two years and was ordered to carry out a supervision requirement, comply with a curfew for 91 days, and complete a rehabilitation activity requirement for 20 days.