A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD boy was told he should expect to receive a custodial sentence after admitting stabbing another youth in a street confrontation.
The warning was issued by Judge Christopher Prince after the young defendant pleaded guilty to two charges put to him during a short plea hearing at Durham Crown Court, on Friday (October 9).
He admitted both unlawful and malicious wounding, plus possession of an offensive weapon, namely a kitchen knife, each committed in the incident, on Monday, July 6.
The victim of the attack, in Stephenson Way, Newton Aycliffe, a youth of similar age, is understood to have suffered a collapsed lung, plus other injuries.
Matthew Bean, prosecuting, said it appears the admission was based on the full facts put forward by the Crown.
Peter Kilgour, for the defendant, said the offence carries a potential period of two years’ detention, given the age of the defendant.
But he asked for preparation of a background report on the defendant by the Youth Offender Service, prior to sentence.
Judge Prince agreed and told Mr Kilgour: “I trust the defendant appreciates he must expect to receive a custodial sentence.”
He bailed the defendant to an address in County Durham, with conditions that he observes an 8pm to 7am home curfew and keeps away from prosecution witnesses, prior to sentence, back at the court, on Friday November 6.
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