A SHOP robber fled with only a few packets of cigarettes after confronting an elderly assistant at knifepoint.

Alex Daniel Mason, who had been drinking and had taken Valium before the raid, walked about a mile to target the convenience store, in Grange Villa, near Chester-le-Street, on April 9.

Durham Crown Court heard he entered the Front Street premises with a top covering most of his face, holding a 6in-bladed kitchen knife, at about 5.15pm.

Martin Towers, prosecuting, said although customers were present, Mason approached the counter, shouting: “Give me the money from the till.”

As the till was closed, the 73-year-old assistant stepped back towards stairs leading to an upstairs flat.

Mason grabbed several packets of cigarettes from a tobacco stand, before leaving via the front door, although a witness described him dropping some of his haul as he fled.

The assistant later told police she was frightened for the safety, of herself, her husband and her customers.

Mr Towers said a witness, who allowed the defendant to stay with him at the time, told police Mason committed the robbery as he told him he was going to carry it out, shortly before the raid.

Mason was arrested at a relative’s address and was still in possession of some of the stolen tobacco.

Although he denied the offence, at the time, he pleaded ‘guilty’ to robbery and possessing a bladed article at an earlier hearing.

Mason also admitted involvement in intimidation of the mother of a witness in another case, involving a friend.

Twenty-year-old Mason, of no fixed address, pleaded ‘guilty’ to witness intimidation, stemming from that incident.

Tony Davis, mitigating, said at the time Mason was homeless, “leading a feckless existence”, living off other people’s ‘charity’ and on benefits.

Mr Davis said although it was “premeditated, to some extent”, the attempted robbery was, “not the most sophisticated”.

Judge Christopher Prince said Mason appeared to have targeted the premises, aware it was run by a “vulnerable” woman, walking a mile to get there.

He imposed a sentence of three years and seven months, including three months for the witness intimidation, which will start in a young offenders’ institution.