A TEENAGER has admitted a charge of wounding with intent after a homeless man was stabbed in Bournemouth in April.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted the offence before a judge at Bournemouth Crown Court.

He also admitted possession of an imitation firearm at the time of committing an offence.

However, no evidence was presented by prosecutors in relation to a third charge of attempted murder, which the young man denied at a youth court earlier this year.

A formal not guilty verdict has been recorded to the charge.

The defendant was arrested after a homeless man was knifed in the leg as he slept under Bournemouth Pier at Undercliff Drive in the early hours of Friday, April 4.

Police cordoned off a section of the road, which runs along the seafront, at around 5.10am that day.

A 35-year-old man sustained stab wounds and required hospital treatment.

Judge Peter Johnson warned the young man that he considers the offences to be “serious matters”.

He added: “In my view, at this stage, in order to protect the public you will be remanded into custody again [after sentence].”

The defendant is currently at a young offenders’ institution in Kent.

A provisional date of Wednesday, September 24 has been set for his sentence, which will take place after a pre-sentence report is prepared by the Probation Service with support from Bluebird House in Southampton.

The facility supports young men and women aged 12 to 18 with complex mental health problems which mean that they pose a risk to themselves or others.