Dean Smith carried out his terrifying robbery at The Co-op branch in Seaside Lane, Easington Colliery, shortly before 7am on Thursday August 8, last year.
Durham Crown Court was told the defendant went straight behind the counter armed with the large knife and began removing packs of cigarettes.
Nicci Horton, prosecuting, said a cleaner who saw Smith entering the premises alerted the assistant, telling him the defendant had a knife.
(Image: Durham Constabulary/Google Street View) The shop worker urged the cleaner and other staff members to hide in a store room, but was told by Smith: “If you come any nearer I’ll f***ing kill you,” as he filled a bag with tobacco products.
Miss Horton said the assistant was to tell police it was the only time while at work that he had genuinely feared for his life.
Smith left the premises with between £3,000 and £4,000-woth of tobacco and alcohol.
It was not until the result emerged of a forensic test on a blood drop, found near the shop till drawer, that Smith was pinpointed as responsible.
He was arrested at his home in Easington Colliery on August 24 and, when questioned about the incident, he gave no reply to police.
In his victim statement the assistant said while Easington is a place, “rife with shoplifting”, he had never gone into work thinking anything of this kind would happen.
Forty-year-old Smith, of Bourne Street, Easington Colliery, admitted robbery and possessing a bladed article.
(Image: Durham Constabulary) The court heard the defendant has 55 convictions for 88 offences, with “relevant” offences of knife possession, shop theft, common assault and assaulting an emergency worker, plus attempted robbery and robbery from 2005.
Recorder Dafydd Enoch told the defendant’s counsel, Nicholas Lane, that he had read a Probation Service background report on Smith as well as a reference from a former partner.
“I find it rather a moving reference for someone in your client’s situation, but it gave me an insight into another side to him,” he said.
Mr Lane said the defendant was realistic and knew there was no alternative to a lengthy sentence.
“He’s been in custody since his arrest in August, so he’s served 142 days on remand and indicated he would be pleading guilty when he made his first appearance before magistrates.
“He’s been entirely candid with the author of his pre-sentence report over his difficulties with substances and accepts being under the influence of substances and alcohol when he committed this offence.
“He was awoken by his ex-partner and went on to commit this offence with a large kitchen knife.
“I don’t downplay the effect on the shop worker, but the defendant’s record is lacking anything of serious violence, without minimising what’s there.
“His most serious assault was committed when he was aged 12, while his previous robbery and attempted robbery offences are almost 20 years old.”
Recorder Enoch said it was not unusual for shoplifters to carry bladed articles as, “tools of the trade”, which is what happened in this case.
He added: “That item was brandished to maximise the threat.”
Mr Lane said: “He’s remorseful and tells me he wrote to the Co-op store and fully accepts he caused this gentleman (the store assistant) harm and distress, for which he’s truly sorry.
“While on remand he has engaged with the mental health services available and has earned enhanced prisoner status.
“He tells me he does not want to trouble the courts in future.”
(Image: The Northern Echo) Recorder Enoch told Smith as, “an experienced criminal”, he would know the consequences of capture for such an offence would be serious.
“You went into that shop with that massive knife intending to steal as much as you could, but in the process you managed to scare the life out of the people inside.
“Robbery is a serious matter.
“People have to be able to go about their daily lives without being threatened like this by the likes of you.”
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Imposing a four-year prison sentence Recorder Enoch told Smith it would have been six years had the case gone to trial, but he said it was aggravated by the number of convictions on the defendant’s record.
He said he had considered sentencing the defendant as a “dangerous offender”, but added that he was not convinced that the statutory criteria applied in this case.
Recorder Enoch also imposed a further sentence of 18 months for the knife possession charge, but said it could be served concurrently to the four years for robbery.