A teenager is facing being locked up for robbing a Sittingbourne shopkeeper at knifepoint.

He threatened Rohit Meta with the weapon when stealing alcohol from Kent Mart in Station Street on September 15 last year.

The 17-year-old had gone into the shop with another youth, who ran off before the knife was produced.

The defendant, of Great Barr in Birmingham, West Midlands, admitted robbery after seeing CCTV film of the raid.

Defence lawyer Stephen Bailey read out a basis of plea, which was not accepted by the
prosecution.

In it the teenager claimed he only intended to buy alcohol, but was refused by the victim because of his age.

The other youth, he claimed, took advantage of the situation to steal.

He added: “I panicked when the doors closed because I knew the police would be called.

“I pulled out the knife to escape from my predicament.

"On the spur of the moment I decided to steal alcohol.”

Maidstone Crown Court heard the teenager will also be sentenced for supplying drugs when he returns on June 12.

He has previous convictions for assault, criminal damage and possessing cocaine.

Judge Philip Statman told him: “Custody is inevitable. You must understand the only reason I am requesting a pre-sentence report is to determine the length of sentence.

“What can be said on your behalf is you have had the good sense to plead guilty.”