A court heard how a 16-year-old boy held a two-foot long machete to a taxi driver’s throat as he was subjected to a terrifying ordeal.
The teenager, whose name cannot be revealed because of legal reasons, has previously served custodial sentences for brutal assaults committed when he was aged just 14 and 15.
Now he faces a new punishment over the attack which was carried out in Dundee in November of last year.
Dundee Sheriff Court heard the boy had attended a party in the city’s Mossgiel Crescent, leaving at around 3am to go to another address in the city in a taxi with three friends.
On the way back to the party the taxi driver feared the group was going to try and run off without paying, and told them they needed to pay their fare before leaving the car.
The teen then pulled out a huge machete and held it to the driver’s neck.
The court was yesterday shown the potentially deadly weapon, which had a blade around two feet long.
After the taxi driver fled the vehicle screaming for help, one of the other boys, who also cannot be named, stole a drawstring bag containing the driver’s change as they made off.
Fiscal depute Eilidh Robertson told the court the boys then casually returned to the party.
She said the boy’s companions had not expected him to use the weapon and were stunned when he produced it without any warning.
“The other three boys had intended just to commit taxi fraud but were all surprised when the other boy pulled out the machete,” Ms Robertson said.
“Officers attended the party around 4am.
The depute fiscal continued: “The machete was found in plain sight on the kitchen floor.”
One of the boys, 16, of Dundee, pleaded guilty on indictment to a charge of assault.
The other, also 16 and from Dundee, admitted a charge of theft.
Sheriff Alistair Carmichael deferred sentence for social work background reports.
Both boys will return to court next month.