The youth – who cannot be identified because of his age – will be sentenced instead for a single count of committing a grave and criminal assault.

The sentencing will take place before the Superior Number of the Royal Court on 4 January.

The Superior Number of the court sits only to hear the most serious cases – it is empowered to hand out sentences of any length.

Most Royal Court hearings are conducted by the Inferior Number, which can hand out a maximum sentence of a four-year prison term.