A NEWPORT teenager accused of being part of a gang who robbed a newsagents at knifepoint said he was on the other side of the city at the time, a court heard yesterday.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be named, is charged with one count of robbery relating to an incident in which shopkeeper Ali Riaz was threatened with a kitchen knife before a group made off with around £1,500 and cigarettes. He denies the charge.

The teenager took to the stand yesterday as he protested his innocence, telling the court he met another 17-year-old, who cannot be named and has already pleaded guilty to his part in the robbery, in a city park on the day of the robbery.

He was told by the other youth he was going to rob a shop, at which point he said he “laughed at him because I wanted no part of it and thought it was a stupid idea”.

The youth then said he met a relative and a friend of his, hung out with them for a while before calling a taxi and heading home.

He said he was in a different part of the city at the time the gang struck at the newsagency in Pill.

Newport Crown Court heard previously a group of four people robbed Lifestyle Stores in Alexandra Road, on December 16.

Two youths came in and one of them pulled a knife out and demanded money. They were followed in by a third person, alleged to be this defendant who was covering his face with his hand and demanding money from Mr Riaz, while a fourth waited outside.

The teenager with the knife 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.