James Parker fled empty-handed but was arrested after telling his girlfriend he had "done the shop", a jury at Durham Crown Court heard.

Prosecutor Jane Foley said the raid took place just before 9pm at the Crosslands convenience store, in Horden.

"The shop has been owned for more than 17 years by Sakbinder Singh," said Ms Foley.

"At the time of the raid, his wife Manjit Kaur was working behind the counter.

"She is well-known to the customers as 'Mandy'.

"At around 8.30pm she was in the shop chatting to a customer when James Parker came in and asked for the time and at what time the shop closed.

"He returned about 10 minutes later and asked, quite politely, if he could have the money from the till."

The court was told Mrs Kaur was startled and asked Parker to repeat
what he had said.

"He then pulled a knife from his tracksuit trousers," added Ms Foley.

"He thrust it towards Mrs Kaur who was understandably taken aback.

"She ran into the living room of the linked domestic accommodation and her husband called the police.

"She later estimated the blade of the knife to be between 12ins and 15ins in length.

"Police were quickly on the scene and from Mrs Kaur's description, arrested James Parker who was with his then-girlfriend, Rebecca Malcolm.'

"Ms Malcolm told police Parker told her he had 'done the shop' and stabbed Mandy, even though Mrs Kaur suffered no physical injury."

Parker appeared drunk and was carrying a bottle of cider, Ms Malcolm said. He told her he needed money to pay debts.

Parker, 21, of Station Road, Easington Colliery, denies attempted robbery on January 24, this year.

He told police he was with Ms Malcolm at the time, had not been in the shop, and did not have a knife with him that day.
Proceeding.