Darlington shopkeeper stabbed in leg during robbery pulled knife from thigh as she fought off attacker

Armed robber Craig Neill, 16, was yesterday locked up for five years for a terrifying knife-point hold-up at a corner shop in Darlington in February.

He told police that he was "off my barnet on Ecstasy" when he carried out the raid around the corner from his home - but had no memory of doing it.

A judge at Teesside Crown Court said CCTV footage of the lunch-time incident was "one of the most wicked things I have seen in a long, long time".

Judge Sean Morris told Neill, who has a conviction for trying to choke a teen with a length of wire: "Sixteen you may be, but you are a violent young man."

Responding to an application from the thug's barrister to uphold restrictions on the case, he added: "I don't see why the Press should not report this."

Neill stabbed the shopkeeper in the leg during a violent struggle, punched her in the face, threw her to the floor and banged her into a fridge.

The brave victim pulled the blade from her right thigh, but had to fight for her life as her drug-fuelled attacker battled to get it back from her.

Dramatic closed circuit television footage from inside the store shows how the weapon was just an inch from her face at one point as the pair grappled.

Neill - captured on pictures pacing around outside for five minutes beforehand to make sure nobody was around - fled with £60 from the till.

The shop boss knew him as a customer, but used Facebook to discover his name and tell police, and the teenager was found hiding in a garden at his home.

In an impact statement, the victim said: "I think of what might have happened. I feel lucky not to have been more seriously injured or killed."

Judge Morris told Neill he could easily have been facing a murder charge of the blade had hit an artery, or if he had been able to get it back.

The judge said: "If you were to commit a further offence after this which involves violence at this level, you are going to be regarded as a dangerous offender.

"You'll be looking at possibly an indeterminate sentence, which means putting you away and throwing the key away until you are safe to come out."

Keiran Rainey, mitigating, told the court that Neill's father and his partner found him "uncontrollable" at times, and he trawled the streets at night.

He said the teenager believed "the world revolved around him" and reacted badly when he did not get his own way - but he did have good points.

"He has no recollection of committing the offence, and had not been able to bring himself to watch the footage. He is deeply ashamed and shocked.

"He seems to have lapses and outbursts at various times when his temper is triggered or something is not to his liking, or when he has had a binge of alcohol or drugs."

Mr Rainey said Neil has spent two-and-a-half months behind bars since his arrest, and discovered "there are bigger and stronger fish in there".

Judge Morris told the young yob: "Understand this, when inside there is always the potential for problems as well.

"You have a hair-trigger, and it may end up with you spending the rest of you're life inside if you are not careful . . . sort yourself out."

History of racist abuse

ROBBER Craig Neill was described by his youth offending worker as "perfectly polite and capable most of the time".

The spotty teenager - first in court at the age of 14 - has written to his victim to apologise for what he did.

His lawyer Kieron Rainey said Neill had told him before entering court: "I have total respect for her going back to work."

Mr Rainey added yesterday: "He wanted to say how sorry he was, and how appalled he was by his own actions.

"The letter says he wishes he had not done it, and wishes he knew why, so he could explain.

"He is now starting to understand how terrifying this would have been for her."

Neill's first conviction two years ago was for racially-aggravated harassment, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Next, he was prosecuted for a struggle with police during which he shouted "you're all f***ing pigs" and called one officer "a f***ing Pakki c***".

An assault conviction followed when he wrapped a length of wire around a boy's neck and shoved over his friend and pulled her hair.

Victim: 'I don't feel safe'

THE shopkeeper stabbed and robbed by drug-fuelled Craig Neill has told how she feared returning to work - but said: "I don't want to be beaten."

The brave store owner revealed in a victim impact statement how the raid has left her "completely devastated" and now untrusting of other customers."

She knew teenager Neill and recognised him as he entered and locked the door, but the next thing she remembers clearly is pressing the panic alarm.

Teesside Crown Court heard how she pulled the knife from her right thigh and fought for her life as the robber tried to grab back the blade.

Closed circuit television footage shows how the pair struggled violently as Neill punched the woman in the face and threw her to the floor.

After getting back to her feet, the plucky shop boss was banged into a fridge, but she managed to pull Neill's hoody over his head before he ran off.

The 16-year-old - "off his barnet on Ecstasy" - fled after grabbing £60 from the till, as his victim yelled: "Why are you doing this? I trusted you. Just go."

Prosecutor Jenny Haigh told the court the woman suffered a deep stab wound to her leg, a scratch across her left forearm and bruised nose and arm.

"She says no-one had the right to physically attack her with a weapon, causing her serious injury and taking her property," Miss Haigh said yesterday.

In a statement made the day after the drama on February 23, the victim said she felt "totally worn out" and believed that she was in delayed shock.

"I have returned to work because firstly I have bills to pay, and secondly I don't want to be beaten. If I give in and go home, he's won," she said.

"When customers ask, I keep telling them I'm fine, when deep down I know I'm not. I don't know what the future holds, but now I don't feel safe."

In a statement made the following month, she told how extra security had been installed in the shop, and she constantly monitors the CCTV pictures.

"Craig Neill was a regular customer at my shop, and for him to commit a vicious against me has left me paranoid about other customers," she added.

"This incident has left me completely devastated . . . before the robbery, I was confident and happy at work, however, now I feel vulnerable."

The woman added: "I had always previously enjoyed my job, but I do not feel the same way about it now. My feelings and concerns have not changed.

"Every day, I feel like closing the shop early and going home. The incident has hugely affected my life. I think of what might have happened."

Judge Sean Morris told Neill the raid could easily have ended in a death, and said: "The lady will have to live with this for the rest of her life.

"She was an extremely, extremely brave woman, who kept hold, thank god, of that knife, and would not let you have it, otherwise I suspect you may have been here for murder."