A TEENAGER will be sentenced next month after admitting to wielding a knife at a security guard inside an Armidale shopping centre.
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The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified because of his age, appeared in Armidale Children’s Court on Thursday morning and admitted to four charges including using an offensive weapon to commit an indictable offence.
The teen had pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday but reversed his pleas during Thursday’s brief appearance.
Magistrate Michael Holmes formally refused the teenager bail and ordered he remain in juvenile detention ahead of a sentencing hearing in December.
The charges stem form separate incidents on Monday afternoon in the Armidale CBD.
Detectives had claimed the boy brandished a knife to intimidate a security guard at the Armidale Centro Shopping Centre after he was stopped for being disruptive about 4.50pm.
The teen became hostile when confronted and pulled the weapon, described as being similar to a steak knife, from his pants, and threatened the guard.
After the altercation, the teenager fled the scene on foot.
Police patrolled the area and following investigations, captured the teen just before 5pm on Tuesday at a Blaxland Rd property.
He was questioned by investigators and charged with using an offensive weapon, namely a knife, to commit an indictable offence.
The teenager was also charged in relation to a break-in at the St Kilda Hotel between Monday night and early Tuesday morning.
The teen forced his way into the Rusden St hotel and stole a quantity of soft drink and cordial which still hasn’t been recovered.
Staff discovered the break-in just before 4am and alerted police.
New England Acting Inspector Matt Crotty praised officers for the arrest which came within 24 hours of the offences.
“This was a swift arrest by Armidale detectives who have been investigating these incidents,” he said.