A 15-YEAR-OLD boy yesterday admitted indecently touching a woman in a Darlington subway - and was warned he could be jailed.

The incident took place in an underpass on Bondgate, near Riley's snooker club, when the woman was walking to work at about 8.30am on Tuesday, April 19.

Darlington Youth Court heard how, only minutes afterwards, the woman phoned a description of her assailant to her boyfriend, who caught the youth.

Derek Walton, prosecuting, said the youth carried out the offence after two men robbed him of money in nearby Gladstone Street.

They pointed out the woman as she passed, and told the defendant they would only return it if he touched her bottom.

"As she passed through the subway, she became aware of a running noise behind her," he said.

"She was grabbed by the defendant, and he put his arm round her neck.

"He touched her breast and put his left arm up her skirt and touched her."

The woman's screams alerted a nearby postman, who ran to her rescue.

He then chased the youth as he ran out of the subway to get a better look at him.

The victim then passed on the description to her boyfriend, who was working in the area, and he spotted him minutes later.

Mr Walton continued: "He approached the defendant and took him back to where the incident had occurred, and the victim and the postman were able to identify him."

The youth - who cannot be identified because of his age - was arrested.

He admitted to police that he was in the subway and had touched the woman's bottom, but denied touching her elsewhere.

Rob Hutchinson, mitigating, said the youth had since confirmed the prosecution's account of events - confirmed by his guilty plea.

District Judge Wood told the youth that his offence was serious, but adjourned sentencing until May 20 for reports to be prepared.

But he warned: "I am looking at a custodial sentence for this offence."