'Robber pointed knife at me and demanded vodka'

A ROBBER who pointed a knife at a shopkeeper and demanded vodka and cigarettes has been jailed.

David Grima, 42, was drunk when he held the bread knife up to Mehdi Nilsaz, who owns the Carlton Mini Market, in Anlaby Road, west Hull.

It happened just weeks after he called 999 claiming he had planted three pipe bombs at the new £30m police station in Clough Road, north Hull.

Mr Nilsaz said: "It was very scary. I was frightened.

"He came in and pointed the knife at me and said he wanted to pinch vodka, cigarettes and cash.

"He told me not to call the police. I gave him what he wanted and then he ran away."

Grima, of Norton Grove, west Hull, escaped with £60 cash.

He was jailed for two years and eight months at Hull Crown Court after he admitted robbery and possessing an offensive weapon on May 9.

As he was led from the dock, Grima said: "I'm just sorry for the offence. I was drunk."

Representing Grima, Ian Phillip said his client was "highly intoxicated" when he carried out the robbery at 6pm.

Recorder Duncan Smith said: "Where he's going, he won't be drinking for a while."

The court heard he had previously been sentenced for an affray inside the same shop, in which he brandished a knife.

Mr Phillip said: "He knows his high level of intoxication doesn't excuse his behaviour. Clearly, the complainant must have been concerned.

"He cannot remember the affray, but says if it was the same shop and the same person then he can only apologise to the complainant.

"This robbery was an unplanned and opportunistic offence. He didn't wear a disguise and the sum of money taken, although important to the complainant, was small."

Jailing Grima, Recorder Smith said: "You caused the complainant to be so afraid he couldn't call the police. It is not the first time you have been into his shop and produced a knife.

"You took the property that he works very hard to own. That is how he makes his living.

"Convenience stores like this are vulnerable to attacks by the likes of you, therefore it is the prime function of the courts to offer what protection they can to people who serve the community."

Grima was ordered to serve a ten-week suspended prison sentence imposed for the hoax call.

He had been drinking all day and had taken anti- depressants and ibuprofen before calling 999 to say there were three pipe bombs in car exhausts parked at the Clough Road station.

He told the operator: "You know that new Clough Road police station? I've put three pipe bombs in exhausts outside.

"The code word is crown jewels. You've got 20 minutes to go."

Police immediately suspected it was a hoax call and no officers were evacuated from the station.

Grima also told the call operator: "I'm mental. The Government has made me mental.

"I'm watching you now. I'm in the car. You better get them out. I'm serious. Bye."

He had made the call from his own mobile phone, which he had previously used to contact police. Officers went to his home, where they found him pretending to be asleep on the sofa.

He later laughed in police interview when he was given details of the call.