A TEENAGER who carried out a terrifying knifepoint robbery has been sentenced to a two year detention and training order.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, held a 20cm knife to the chest of a young man as he demanded that he had over cash.

The teenager targeted the man after he first attempted to buy drugs from him, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Harry Hadfield, prosecuting, said the youth threatened the complainant before demanding 'give me all that you have got' after refusing a cigarette when he was unable to get his 'weed'.

He said: "The defendant took hold of the collar of the complainant and pulled out a knife. He placed it against the stomach of the complainant and said 'give me all that you have got'.

"He has shouted upstairs to get his girlfriend to bring the money downstairs. The defendant told the complainant that if he told anyone the defendant would kill the complainant.

"The complainant at that point thought that he would be stabbed and was very frightened."

Mr Hadfield said the teenager made off with £220 from the robbery in the house on Napier Street, Middlesbrough.

The court heard how the defendant returned to the same address the following day demanding to see the victim but his mother managed to push the teenager out of the house and lock the door.

His mother told police that the youth had with him a knife and a bottle containing a noxious liquid.

Mr Hadfield told the court that when police arrested the defendant on South Street, Middlesbrough, he was carrying a lock knife.

The youth pleaded guilty to robbery and two charges of possession of a bladed article following his arrest in March.

In mitigation, Nigel Soppitt said his client had been addicted to cannabis from a young age and accepted that it was a 'very serious case'.

Judge Paul Watson QC sentenced the youth to a two-year detention and training order for robbery with two concurrent six-month sentences for possession of a bladed article. He said: "You went round this man's house and threatened him with a 20cm knife and put it to his chest – his partner was absolutely terrified."