Man admits taking waitress hostage in Melb

A man has admitted to taking a waitress hostage at knifepoint during an eight-hour siege in a Melbourne restaurant.

Abijath Desikan, of no fixed address, appeared in the County Court of Victoria on Thursday and pleaded guilty to one count of armed robbery and one count of assaulting the victim and detaining her against her will.

Police say he walked into a Southbank restaurant on April 5, took a staff member hostage at knifepoint and barricaded himself and the victim in a storeroom for eight hours.

The armed robbery charge relates to Desikan's use of a chef's knife to gain security access to the property.

Desikan, in his mid-30s, will face court again in April for a plea hearing.