A TEENAGER has been spared time behind bars after he was caught on camera threatening a person with a kitchen knife near a primary school.
Kyle Agar, of Llan y Bryn in Caernarfon, appeared for sentence at Caernarfon Crown Court on Friday.
The 19-year-old had previously admitted one offence of possessing a bladed article in a public place.
Dylan Wagg, prosecuting, told the court that in August last year, police received an anonymous video depicting Agar approaching an unknown victim with a kitchen knife.
He was on a public footpath at a cemetery in the Caernarfon area and there was a primary school nearby.
The incident, which saw Agar shouting "come on then" while swiping the blade towards the victim, was suspected to have happened in July.
Mr Wagg said the defendant had no previous convictions - but he did have two previous youth cautions for possessing imitation firearms.
John Wyn Williams, defending, said: "The court is face with the choice of sending a 19-year-old man to a young offenders institute or giving him one opportunity to show he can engage and be assisted by the professionals.
"I have to accept the pre-sentence report doesn't really help him.
"But he had the good sense to plead guilty."
Mr Wyn Williams said the defendant's mother, who had attended court to support him, was "at the end of her tether" with his behaviour.
He invited the court to allow his client to retain his liberty in order to work with the probation service in the community.
Recorder John Philpotts told the defendant: "I hope you realise you're in serious trouble.
"The offence you committed, which was caught on that video, is a very serious matter.
"You couldn't complain if I was to send you to a young offenders institute today.
"I want you to remember how you're feeling now when you are tempted to behave in the way you did again."
He told the defendant he had escaped immediate custody 'by the skin of his teeth' - handing down a 12 month term of detention in a young offenders institute, but suspending it for 12 months.
Agar must undertake 25 days of rehabilitation activity, a 12 month drug rehabilitation requirement, 100 hours of unpaid work and a 120 day alcohol abstinence monitoring requirement - as well as paying £150 costs.
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