A teenager who assaulted another youth at an out-of-town shopping centre has been warned he could be jailed.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been due to stand trial after pleading not guilty to a charge of causing actual bodily harm.

But before a jury could be sworn in, the boy, from Redhouse, changed his plea to admit carrying out the assault on June 21 last year.

Judge Peter Blair QC adjourned the case to January 23 so a pre-sentence report can be carried out on the youth.

A second person, 21-year-old Mervyn Willis, of Tunnicliffe Close, Marlborough Park, pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing and will be sentenced alongside the youth.