A drugged up robber has been jailed after he stole cash and cider from a family-run Nottinghamshire shop. Mark Kavanagh raided Chopra News in High Street, Sutton-in-Ashfield, after he was previously £1 short for some booze - and they would not let him off the £1, Nottingham Crown Court heard.
He returned to the small shop on November 23 last year, when one of the owners was in a back room with her two daughters. Convicted robber Kavanagh, of Brand Lane, Sutton-in-Ashfield, arrived with his dog, and the owner recognised him as being a customer for one month previously.
She apologised to him as he entered on November 23 at 8pm because he could not bring the dog inside. But 36-year-old Kavanagh, who had been drinking all day and had taken amphetamine, said he was bringing the dog in and loaded an Asda bag up with White Storm cider from the fridge, and asked her what she was going to do about it.
She stayed at the till with one of her daughters before he approached and produced a knife, making a stabbing gesture and shouting, "I want the cash, opening the ******* till, or I will stab you". He made the threats as he held the knife and banged the hilt against the counter and smacked it against the till, to reinforce his threat, explained Joshua Purser, prosecuting, on Wednesday (March 1).
She handed him notes from the till but Kavanagh explained that he wanted change as well, and everything went in his Asda bag, including more cider. After leaving with his dog, he was traced and arrested.
He went on to plead guilty to robbery, receiving four years and four months in custody, and an extended licence of four years on his release. Twelve months was imposed concurrently for possessing the knife.
Judge Mark Watson said the shop was "family-run" and he took what he wanted. "You told her, 'I want the money or I will stab you, you ******* *****".
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