A NEWPORT teenager took part in a knifepoint robbery of a city newsagents, a court heard yesterday.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, was said to be part of a four-man gang who threatened a shopworker with the kitchen knife before making off with around £1,500 and cigarettes.

The teenager denies one count of robbery.

Shopkeeper Ali Riaz told a jury at Newport Crown Court he was working behind the counter of Lifestyle Stores in Alexandra Road, Pill, on December 16 when two youths came in.

One of them pulled out a knife, said to be 12in long, and demanded money.

The pair were then followed in by a third person, alleged to be the defendant, who was covering his face with his hand and demanding money from Mr Riaz, while a fourth waited outside.

Prosecutor David Pinell said as he lunged over the counter to grab cigarettes from the shelves behind Mr Riaz, he moved his hand away from his face.

Jurors heard Mr Riaz picked the youth out of a video display, which is used instead of an identity parade.

Mr Pinell said the youth brandishing the knife and the defendant exchanged messages on Facebook the day after the robbery and warned the defendant detectives knew who had committed the crime.

The teenager with the knife, another 17-year-old the Argus is banned from naming, admitted his role in this robbery and the attempted robbery of Ali’s Convenience Stores, Alexandra Road, four days later, when he sprayed shopkeeper Abdullah Ali in the face with ammonia. He was given an 18-month detention order earlier this year.

Proceeding.