James Parker thrust a blade at Manjit Kaur in a botched attempt to get money from the till at Crosslands convenience store, in Horden, a court heard.

The jury at Durham Crown Court was not told Parker, 20, has a previous conviction for carrying a knife of the same length in public and convictions for several other offences including shoplifting, theft, obtaining by deception and burglary.

He was found guilty of attempting to rob Mrs Kaur after a three-day trial.

Judge Michael Cartlidge thanked the jury for their attention to the case and told them: "You were not made aware of Parker's earlier convictions. But he now knows he was convicted purely on the evidence in this case and not because of anything he may have done in the past."

Prosecutor Jane Foley told the court Parker called into the shop about half an hour before the robbery and asked Mrs Kaur for the time and when she would be closing.

He returned when no other customers were present and threatened her with the knife before fleeing empty-handed.

Mrs Kaur was able to give a good description of Parker to police and he was arrested nearby.

He claimed to have been with his girlfriend at the time. But she told police Parker confessed to her saying he had "done the shop" because he needed money to pay debts.

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

He declined to give evidence in court on his own behalf and was convicted by the jury after more than three hours of deliberation.

Jane Waugh, defending, applied for a pre-sentence report.

"Despite his record, he has never been inside before," said Ms Waugh.

Judge Cartlidge remanded Parker in custody and told him: "I am sending you to custody now because that is the inevitable sentence.

"Mrs Kaur and members of the public reading about this case would quite rightly expect you to be locked up for what you did."
Parker will be sentenced next month.