Teenager stabbed Inverness taxi driver with screwdrivers High Court in Glasgow is told
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The thug also told his victim he would blind him during the terrifying attack.
The then 16-year-old carried out the unprovoked attack on the taxi driver in Inverness on July 7 last year.
The 44-year-old had confronted the boy after fearing he and a friend were going to flee without paying.
Nearby residents who witnessed the horror attack raced out to help the injured cabbie.
The young thug was later held and insisted his victim was a "lying b*****d".
The now 17-year-old – who cannot be named due to his age – today pleaded guilty to assaulting the victim to his injury and danger of life as well as attempting to rob him.
He will be sentenced next month.
The High Court in Glasgow heard how the private hire driver picked up the boy and his female friend in the early hours of July 7.
During the journey, the girl claimed she had forgotten her bank card and asked to return to where they had been collected.
Prosecutor Greg Farrell said the taxi driver became "suspicious" that they would not pay the fare.
He agreed to go back, but only if one of the pair remained in the car.
They returned, the girl got out and then the boy followed.
Mr Farrell said the driver advised them to pay or he would call police.
The teenager initially claimed he would stump up, but then "without warning" punched the taxi driver.
The young attacker screamed: "Give me money!"
Mr Farrell said the driver tried to re-enter his vehicle, but the accused swung his arms while making repeated stabbing motions and saying 'I will make you blind'.
The driver struggled with the boy and observed he had a screwdriver in each hand.
He managed to grab one of the tools, but the teenager continued the attack with the other.
The driver was also choked as the thug sat on top of him.
The teenager went on to hold the screwdriver at the cabbie's eyes as he still demanded money.
The taxi driver eventually managed to escape back to his vehicle before the boy smashed a window.
Three people then helped the driver, with two bravely restraining the attacker while waiting for police.
After the victim was rushed to hospital, he was found to have a number of wounds to his neck, head and back.
He luckily did not need surgery and was able to leave hospital later that day.
The attacker meantime was quizzed by police and stated: "Why would I want to kill the boy? It is the first time I have seen him in my full life.
"F*****g hell, lying b*****d."
The teenager is currently held in Kibble Secure Unit in Paisley, Renfrewshire.
Lady Stacey adjourned sentencing for reports.
