A Christmas Day robber got more than he bargained for when his victim attacked him with a metal shelf bracket - drawing blood from which he was identified as the culprit.
The victim was working alone in a Best One shop around 7.30pm on December 25 when Andrew Savage came in and went towards the till area. The worker noticed he had a six-inch knife in one hand and heard him say something which sounded threatening.
Neil Pallister, prosecuting, told Newcastle Crown Court: "He reached for some Captain Morgan rum on the shelf and it appeared he was going to fill a sports bag he had with him with spirits. The man realised he was stealing from the store. He was alone in the shop and fearful for his own safety.
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"In order to protect himself he picked up a metal shelf bracket from behind the till and struck out at him to protect himself and to try to get him out of the shop. He accepts hitting him several times on the head and body with the metal shelf bracket.
"He caused injury to his head which caused him to bleed and droplets of blood fell onto the floor. The defendant ran towards him with the knife in his hand and bundled him to the floor, swinging the knife towards him.
"The victim's wife came running onto the scene and tried to grab hold of the defendant to prevent him stabbing her husband." After a chase around the shop, Savage fled but was identified as the culprit from a DNA match to the blood he left at the scene.
The shop worker from the store on in Southwick Green, Sunderland, said: "As a result of the attack I suffered swelling to my right wrist, which was painful. I was also in genuine fear for my life and that of my wife because the man had a knife and could have quite easily stabbed and killed one of us."
Savage, 50, of Ridley Street, Southwick, Sunderland, who has 102 previous convictions, pleaded guilty to robbery and having a bladed article and was jailed for four years with an extended licence period of a further two years. He was also given a restraining order.
Recorder Simon Goldberg KC told him: "This was a planned, deliberate robbery using a knife at a time when you knew the shop would have been quiet. I accept it would have been terrifying for the victim to have you threaten him while intoxicated, out of control and with a knife in your hand, which, as he said, led him to fear for not just his own life but that of his wife as well."
Vic Laffey, defending, said: "He was under the influence of alcohol and Valium and he was on licence at the time. He was struggling.
"He invited some random gentleman he knew from being on the streets into his home for Christmas Day. Then, having consumed alcohol, he went out to steal some more. He went to one of the few shops that were open on Christmas Day. He is ashamed of the way he acted."
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