A teenage boy threatened to knife a mum and her 18-month-old baby.
Kane Kearney, 17, brandished a Stanley knife at Aimee Lodge as she pushed her baby's pram along a Plymouth street. He is alleged to have said he was going 'cut up' her and the child.
Plymouth Crown Court heard that the teenager then threatened two men with the knife as he launched an hour-long crime spree across Plymouth.
The youth admitted affray, robbery, attempted robbery and possession of a knife during the incidents on October 18 last year.
However, he denied making the threats to the woman and her baby, claiming he had been talking to someone behind them.
Scott Horner, representing the the Crown Prosecution Service said that Kearney was with a group of other young men when he approached Ms Lodge as she walked her baby. He said Kearney made a cross sign across his chest and left the young woman 'very concerned and frightened'.
Mr Horner told the court that 15 minutes later Kearney and two other males approached three other people nearby. Waving the knife, Kearney is said to have told one of them, Roy Breydin, 'Give me your phone or I will stab you'.
Kearney then allegedly pushed Mr Breydin against a car, but did not manage to take his phone.
The teenager's crime wave continued as he approached skateboarder James Smith in a park 45 minutes later and demanded a go on his board. When he was declined, he again brandished his knife and demanded that Mr Smith give him his belongings, making off with £15 from his wallet.
The court was told that all the witnesses picked Kearney out from identity parades.
His solicitor Kelly Scrivener said there were 'inklings' in reports received by the court that he had mental health problems.
The Herald reports that Judge Paul Darlow ordered that Kearney undergo psychiatric assessment to ascertain whether he poses a danger to the public.
He will remain in custody until he is sentenced on May 31.