A 17-year-old who threatened a shopkeeper with an air pistol during a raid in Ditton will be sentenced next month.

The youth pleaded guilty to robbery when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court for stealing more than £500 from the One Stop Shop in New Road last year.

The teenager went into the store at 10.15pm on September 19, dressed in a blue boiler suit, black balaclava and carrying a black pistol.

He screamed at the store manager to take the money out of the till , before making off with £530 and some stamps.

Witnesses reported seeing a person riding a mountain bike near the store before and after the incident.

Police searched an address in East Malling and found a stash of air gun pellets, before searching another and finding the bike along with a bag containing the air pistol, balaclava, stamps and some loose change. A further search revealed the stolen banknotes.

During interview the teenager responsible for robbing the store admitted the offence, revealing plans including collecting the air pistol from a hiding place in a field.

He had then ridden to the home of the second teenager, before telling him what he had done and leaving the bike, weapon and stolen goods.

He will be sentenced on February 25, after pleading guilty to robbery and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear.

The second teenager pleaded guilty last year and was sentenced to complete a 12-month youth offender’s referral order.