A CARLISLE teenager who dodged paying for a taxi ride from Brampton brandished a knife at the driver, telling him: "Talk to me like that again and I'll put this in your mouth."

The cabbie's terrifying ordeal was outlined during a hearing at Carlisle Youth Court.

The 15-year-old admitted three offences: threatening a person with a knife, making off from the taxi without payment, and possessing a knife in a public place - namely, The Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle.

Pam Ward, prosecuting, said the driver was hired at 3.30am on November 11 last year to take the boy from Brampton into Carlisle city centre.

At the start of the journey, the driver asked for payment.

But the boy said that his mother would pay for the journey when they arrived in Carlisle.

When they arrived at London Road, the boy got out of the taxi, as did the driver, but the teenager began walking away.

Feeling unsafe, the driver began to walk back to his taxi.

But the boy, by this time holding a black handled knife, ran after him.

"He put the knife towards his mouth," said Mrs Ward.

It was at this point that he threatened to use the knife on the driver.

The victim flagged down a passing police car and he was later able to identify the teenager by taking part in a photo identity parade.

He clearly identified the 15-year-old as the person who threatened him.

Later that same day, the court heard, the boy was being treated at the A&E Department of The Cumberland Infirmary.

"As he was being moved, a nurse noticed a knife fall to the floor," said Mrs Ward.

The defendant scrambled for the knife, appearing to be in a panic, said the prosecutor.

The defendant had a previous conviction for threatening somebody with a bladed article in a public place.

Paul Tweddle, for the boy, said that while he had been held in custody he had taken a course that aimed to challenge his fondness for carrying a knife.

He had stopped going to school when he was 14, said the lawyer.

Mr Tweddle added:"He's welcome back at his home in Carlisle.

"He has the possibility of change."

Magistrates imposed an eight month detention and training order, which will run consecutively to a 12 month order that the youth is already serving.

As he was being led from from the dock, the teenager muttered an insult about the presiding magistrate.