A ROBBER who threatened a shopkeeper at knifepoint

Colin Brady threatened Ali Sidat with a five-inch bladed knife at his mini market on Ballantrae Road, Blackburn.

He forced Mr Sidat to open the till and ordered him to fill a bag with packets of cigarettes.

Preston Crown Court was told that after the raid, Mr Sidat followed Brady from the scene in his car.

He saw Brady walk to his house, only a quarter of a mile from the shop.

Police arrested Brady at the house and recovered all the money and cigarettes.

Brady, 36, of Staffa Crescent, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to robbery.

Nicholas Simmonds, prosecuting, said Brady came into the shop at lunchtime. He came behind the counter and brandished the knife.

Brady held the knife near him to back up his demands for money.

He took £175 in cash and several packets of cigarettes.

Brady left the shop and brandished the knife at people outside. Mr Simmonds said Irish-born Brady had a long criminal record, and in 1991 had been sentenced to seven years for a robbery in Bury, where he tied up a householder and stole property worth £19,000 from her.

Mark Stuart, defending, said Brady had drunk eight litres of strong cider and taken painkillers.

He was depressed because of his girlfriend's drug taking which he found "abhorrent."

Mr Stuart said: "He had simply had enough and couldn't cope with the situation. It was an awful cocktail of alcohol, painkillers and a man suffering from depression."

Brady was so drunk that he remembered little of what had gone on and was only fit to be interviewed by the police the next day.

Mr Stuart added that no one was injured and Brady was arrested very quickly.

Judge Edward Slinger told Brady: "Mr Sidat must have been terrified. Only an immediate lengthy custodial sentence can be justified."

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