A married father urinated in the street in front of young children then waved a knife at them.
Navarupan Logeswaran pulled the weapon out on the terrified youngsters and said "I will kill you" after they caught him relieving himself on a road in Elswick, in Newcastle.
A court heard the 36-year-old produced the Stanley knife and extended its blade in front of the kids during the incident one afternoon in February last year.
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Prosecutors said that all the victims were shocked, with one 12-year-old boy left "seriously distressed". The police were called and Logeswaran, of Loriner Place, in Milton Keynes, was arrested.
Now, the dad-of-two is facing spending time behind bars after he pleaded guilty to possession of a bladed article.
James Long, prosecuting at Newcastle Magistrates' Court, said the youngsters spotted Logeswaran urinating on Elswick Road on February 28 last year. They started to shout at him, prompting him to pull out the Stanley knife, extend its blade and shout "I will kill you".
Mr Long added: "The Crown say and the defence concede that this is a matter more suitable to be sentenced at the crown court."
Mark Styles, defending, agreed and said he would be asking for a mental health report.
Committing Logeswaran to Newcastle Crown Court for sentence, Deputy District Judge Jane Hamilton said: "This is a serious offence.
"One of the victims was only 12-years-old and he was seriously distressed. The starting point for this offence is one year and six months in custody.
"That's beyond my sentencing powers. You will appear at Newcastle Crown Court on March 23. I will grant you unconditional bail between now and then."