A MAN punched a shop assistant before stealing a tray of beer bottles from a convenience store, a court was told.

Perpetrator Kevin David James was told to expect to receive a prison sentence when his case returns to Durham Crown Court next month.

It follows the 39-year-old defendant’s admission to an offence of robbery at a plea hearing at the court.

He is said to have entered the store, in Front Street, Framwellgate Moor, at about 10.45am on Saturday January 23.

James purported to be at the shop to buy cigarettes before telling the assistant he planned to return to the premises to also purchase the tray of beer.

But he then picked up the tray and walked towards the door, followed by the assistant, who tried to retrieve the beer bottles, some of which spilled to the shop floor.

James is then said to have taken the shop worker in a headlock and punched him, before leaving the premises with the beer.

The court heard the assistant was, “considerably shaken”.

Judge Ray Singh told James, of Newton Drive, Framwellgate Moor, that he would receive a 25-per cent deduction to his sentence, because of his guilty plea.

But he warned him: “The mere fact that I’m adjourning gives me a chance to reflect on the level of sentence.

“Please don’t think because there’s an adjournment that anything other than a custodial sentence will be uppermost in the court’s mind.”

James was remanded to remain in custody pending the sentencing hearing on March 12.