A 21-YEAR-OLD man who pleaded guilty to his part in a knifepoint robbery at a North-East corner shop has been told he will go to prison.

Christopher Shoulder stole money and cigarettes from Noaman's store, in Darlington, along with an accomplice who was wearing a balaclava and wielding a knife.

At Teesside Crown Court yesterday, Shoulder, of Corporation Road, in the town, admitted robbing the shop in Brook Terrace, in the Denes, on January 18.

He gave his plea via a video-link from Holme House prison, Stockton, where he has been remanded.

Tom Mitchell, mitigating, said it was an unusual case because the robbery was carried out by two men and proceedings against the alleged co-accused had not begun.

He told the court the defence team needed to know if the other suspect was to be charged with armed robbery before the defendant could be sentenced.

Mr Mitchell said: "We expected to see the other man in the dock today. However, he is not and is yet to be charged with anything.

"We, however, need to know whether the Crown is going to charge him."

The court heard that Shoulder's account was that he and the other man went into the shop intending to shoplift.

Mr Mitchell said: "However, things rapidly turned nasty because when they have gone into the shop, the other man made straight to the cash till and produced a knife, which this defendant knew nothing about before going into the shop.

"When the other man produced the knife, Christopher Shoulder joined the robbery because he then helped himself, as the other suspect was doing, to the till."

Mr Mitchell said the other suspect had disguised himself before entering the shop, whereas Shoulder did not, which gave weight to the defendant's account that he planned only to shoplift from the premises.

He said his client had a previous conviction for robbery.

Christine Egerton, prosecuting, said she had no information on whether the Crown was proceeding with the case against the alleged co-accused.

Judge Peter Armstrong agreed to adjourn the case for two weeks for pre-sentence reports to be prepared and for the Crown to state its position in the other case.

The judge told Shoulder: "A custodial sentence is inevitable."