A serial offender has been warned he faces jail after he threatened to give two teenagers hepatitis C if they did not hand over their cash.
Robert Riddoch seized one youngster by the clothing and rifled through his pockets before asking: “What would you rather have Hep C or your money?”
Riddoch told the youngsters that if they did not give him everything they had he would stab them with a needle.
After they managed to wriggle free the youths ran into a nearby shop and called the police.
Yesterday the 28-year-old appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and admitted committing three offences over a two-week period earlier this year.
As well as assaulting the teenagers on February 9 on Clifton Road, Aberdeen, he also stole a bottle of vodka from the Lintmill Shoppie on January 28, before assaulting a shop assistant there who tried to stop him from leaving.
The court heard Riddoch, who suffers from hepatitis C, has an “unenviable” criminal record with most of his offences committed while he was under the influence of drink or drugs.
Sheriff Graeme Napier said he woulddefer sentence on the case for background reports to be prepared but warned him a custodial sentence was “almost inevitable”.
He said Riddoch, a prisoner in HMP Grampian, should also be assessed to see if he would be suitable for a restriction of liberty order and a drug treatment testing order.
He will return to court next month.