A SIXTEEN-year-old Accrington boy has admitted three robberies - including one where on a blind man was threatened with a knife.

At Hyndburn Youth Court yesterday the teenager also pleaded guilty to another robbery in which a woman was beaten, covered in paint and dog faeces, locked in a cupboard, sexually abused, and forced naked on to a street.

The crimes were described as "grave" by a prosecution, which said the sentencing powers of the youth court were woefully inadequate.

The boy admitted robbing the woman of her bank card, trespassing twice at her Princess Street home, assaulting and unlawfully imprisoning her, entering her home with intent and inflicting grievous bodily harm on her. The woman is still recovering in a Blackburn hospital, traumatised and injured, the court heard.

The boy, who cannot be identified because of his age, also admitted robbing a blind man and another man at knife-point.

The blind man, 43-year-old Barry Dickinson, was gently led away from the Lidel shop at Dill Hall Lane, Accrington, on March 30. In a secluded yard, his white stick was thrown away, he was forced on to his hands and knees and a knife was held at his throat. He was forced to reveal his bank card PIN number and £250 was taken from his account.

The other man, Michael Butterworth, was robbed of his mobile telephone behind Arncliffe Avenue and Rawson Avenue, Accrington on March 23, by a gang and forced to the ground, the court heard.

The boy admitted seven charges in total. He was previously convicted of damage in February, two assaults in March, and breaching a three-month probation order . He was remanded in custody and will appear at the youth court again, via video link, on Tuesday afternoon, before sentencing at Preston Crown Court.

Peter Wilde, prosecuting, said: "These are all grave crimes and we believe the defendant is facing more than two years in prison, which is the maximum sentence a youth court can impose. Indeed, each offence can carry more than two years' imprisonment. In an adult court, you'd be looking at 14-years."