A BUNGLING armed robber burst into an off-licence, tripped over a doormat as he tried to pull a sawn-off shotgun out of his trousers and blasted himself in the leg, a court heard today.

Badly injured, 24-year-old Richard Blair had to be helped to a getaway car by accomplices and rushed to a safe house where he was later discovered by police and paramedics.

The raiders fled empty-handed and their stolen getaway car was later found burned out following the botched robbery at the Booze Buster store in Newcastle last December, Newcastle Crown Court was told.

Robin Patton, prosecuting, told the court the gun had a hair-trigger mechanism.

Blair, of Shipley Avenue, Fenham, Tyneside, who is also known as Richard Hay, admitted conspiracy to rob, possessing a firearm with intent, and arson, and was now remanded in custody awaiting sentence.

Co-accused Paul Tullin, 17, of Yewcroft Avenue, Newcastle, had admitted possessing a shortened shotgun and was also in custody awaiting sentence.

He gave details of the bungled robbery attempt during the trial of another co-accused, 19-year-old Christopher Collard, of Aldwick Road, Newcastle, who denies conspiracy to rob, possessing a shortened shotgun, and arson.

Mr Patton said: ''This is an armed robbery that was well planned but, unfortunately for one of the robbers, badly executed as he shot himself.

''He had this sawn-off shotgun down the inside of his left leg and he made his way through the door with another man behind.

''There is a doormat there and it may be responsible for what happened because he shot himself in the leg.

''The girls in the shop never realised how close they were to being shot.

Updated: 15.20 Tuesday, July 3