FOUR teenagers charged with assaulting a female police officer in an attempt to rob her will spend the next week in custody, while the court awaits information on whether they committed criminal offences in the past.

Three boys, ages 14 to 15, were charged along with Marlon Mikhel Miguel, 18.

Miguel was also charged with having a cutlass in his possession with the intent to wound.

He pleaded guilty.

One of the younger ones faced a similar charge but said he had no intention of causing injury to anyone and entered a not guilty plea.

The two youngest were allegedly found with the cutlasses while at Lewis Street, San Fernando on Wednesday.

The four, of Embacadere, San Fernando, faced the charge that at Owen Street, San Fernando, they assaulted Constable Frances Benjamin with the intention to rob her.

Benjamin is attached to the Courts and Process Section, San Fernando.

The defendants were not called upon to plead to the indictable charge laid by constable Mendoza.

It was alleged that on Wednesday, Benjamin was walking along Owen Street, San Fernando when she was approached by the group who surrounded her with cutlasses and slapped her across the face.

She screamed and the group dispersed, it was alleged.

The defendants were held by police officers a short distance away.

Police prosecutor Ramdath Phillip asked for time to have their criminal background checked.

He said although they were minors, the Police Service still had to rely on the tracing method used for adult defendants.

Phillip said this system was down and asked for an opportunity to obtain the information.

Acting Deputy Chief Magistrate Rajendra Rambachan explained to the young men, who had no attorneys representing them, that they were charged with a crime of violence and, according to the law, should the tracing show that they have two previous convictions of a violent nature, they would not be entitled to bail.

"It is unlikely, but you never know given how things sometimes are. You will have to wait until the trace comes back," the magistrate said.

The teens were denied bail and because of their ages were remanded to different sections of the Youth Training Centre.

Miguel was sent to Remand Yard, Golden Grove, Arouca.

They will all return to court next Thursday.