A WOULD-BE robber felt immediate contrition by the time he returned home after a failed bid to carry out a raid at a village store.

Michael Leslie Knowles fled empty-handed when a bottle was thrown at him by the daughter of the owner of Windsor Store, a general dealers and off-licence, in Great Lumley, near Chester-le-Street.

Knowles, 32, had entered the premises, in Windsor Terrace, carrying what appeared to be a firearm in a gents’ clothing store carrier bag, shortly before 9.30am on Sunday May 3.

He is said to have threatened the owner that he would shoot if he did not open the till.

It was then that the bottle was thrown in his direction, distracting Knowles and causing him to turn on his feet and leave the shop.

Julie Clemitson, for Knowles, told Durham Crown Court: “He went straight home and said he needed to go to the police station because he had, ‘done something terrible’.”

Asked by Judge Christopher Prince if there was any available evidence that he was responsible, at that stage, Miss Clemitson replied: “No, none whatsoever.”

When he spoke to police, Knowles was said to have told interviewing officers that he had no firearm with him on entering the store, as the object concealed in the carrier bag was actually a petrol can with a pipe attached to the nozzle.

Although it was only a preliminary hearing in the case, Miss Clemitson asked if the indictment could be put to her client.

Knowles, who appeared via video link from nearby Durham Prison, where he has been on remand since his arrest, pleaded guilty to a charge of attempted robbery.

Discussing the sentencing guidelines for such cases, Judge Prince said the offence appeared to be at a level to attract a prison sentence of about four years, had it gone to trial.

Given his immediate admissions, however, that would merit a reduction in the term imposed.

Adjourning for preparation of a pre-sentence report by the Probation Service, the judge told Knowles: “The fact I’m adjourning for a report should not be taken as any indication as to the sentence you will receive.

“Obviously, custody is inevitable. It’s just a case of how long that sentence will be.”

Knowles, of Abbotside Close, Ouston, near Chester-le-Street, was remanded to remain in custody until he is sentenced, on Friday, June 12.