Inverness youth’s crime spree saw him wield a baseball bat, hammer and screwdriver

A teenager went on an armed robbery rampage in Inverness last summer wielding a baseball bat, a hammer and a screwdriver to threaten four of his victims.

Inverness Sheriff Court heard that Daniel Krogulek, whose address was given as Inverness Prison, was 19 when he committed three of his offences, with another three carried out days after his 20th birthday on August 2 last year.

He appeared by video link before Sheriff Sara Matheson and admitted charges of threatening behaviour; two of assault and robbery; one of assault and attempted robbery and one of assault.

The first offence occurred about 12.25am on June 19 last year and involved Krogulek approaching a food delivery driver who had attended an address in St Valery Avenue, Inverness to hand over a takeaway to a woman.

Fiscal depute Emily Hood told the court that, when payment was required, Krogulek produced a metal bat and said: "You want money or this?" while pointing the bat at the delivery man.

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At about 10pm that night, Krogulek met a 13 year old boy in Montague Row in Inverness and threatened him with a baseball bat, saying: "I like your jacket. can I have it? Give it to me now.”

Ms Hood said: "Krogulek swung the bat at the youth who tried to kick it away before running away and contacting the police."

The following day a man received a message from the accused on a dating site asking to meet him in Lidl's car park at 10pm.

"He got into the car and asked that they stop at the Jammy Piece car park in Telford Street so he could go to the toilet,” she said.

"The witness noticed another female nearby he had seen the accused with previously and, becoming suspicious, he asked the accused to get out of the car.

“At this point, the accused began brandishing a screwdriver while the female entered the car, aiming it at the driver's neck and stating ‘it's your car or your life.'

"The accused reached over and took the keys from the ignition and got out of the car, taking the driver's mobile phone from his hand and then left."

The final three offences occurred in Huntly Street at about 1am on August 6.

Krogulek stopped a man and a woman while wielding a hammer, which he swung at them.

The woman dropped her handbag, valued at £300. Krogulek picked it up and ran away.

Sheriff Matheson heard that the contents of the bag, including a mobile phone and debit card, were found later, but the bag was never recovered.

Defending, Marc Dickson said a background report would be required on his client as he is under 25 and he would reserve his comments until it had been prepared.

Krogulek had sentence deferred until March 25 and was again remanded in custody.