A teenager has admitted holding a Glenrothes shopkeeper at knifepoint, while demanding two bottles of vodka.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court before Sheriff Ian Anderson.
He admitted assaulting shopkeeper Haroon Muhammed by presenting a knife and robbing him of a bottle of vodka.
The boy, now 17, was only 16 when he attended at the Premier Store in Glenrothes’ Kenilworth Drive on January 30 last year.
At around 1.30pm that day, the boy and an acquaintance entered the shop and they purchased cigarettes and alcohol, with hoods up, before leaving.
Three hours later, the boy, who is from the Fife area and cannot be named for legal reasons, returned to the shop with a companion.
The shopkeeper grew suspicious of him lurking outside and the youngster held the door open for the last customer inside to leave.
Expecting the boy to try to buy alcohol, the shopkeeper asked to see ID.
The boy produced a bank card but was told this was insufficient.
Threw vodka bottle at fleeing robber
Fiscal depute Alistair McDermott told the court: “The accused became aggressive.
“He was asked to leave.”
The shopkeeper came to the front of the counter before the boy lifted his top and removed a long, black-handled kitchen knife from his waistband and asked for two bottles of vodka and cigarettes.
Returning behind the counter, the employee placed a bottle on the counter as another customer entered the shop.
As the accused ran away, Mr Muhammed threw a second bottle at him, which did not strike the teenager but smashed.
Police attended and analysed “high quality” CCTV footage and identified the youth.
They traced him half an hour later at a bus stop.
The boy’s solicitor, David Bell, said: “At the time of this offence, he had just turned 16.
“He’s no previous convictions.
“It’s a very serious charge, he knows that.”
Sheriff Anderson deferred sentencing until May 30 for a social work report.
