A robber who held up a shopkeeper at knifepoint has been jailed for a total of five years eight months.
Victim Fahim Kamini was working alone in the Top Shop Mini Market in Leeds Road, Heckmondwike, around 8pm on March 7 this year when Stewart Tyrone Stone entered.
Alisha Kaye prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court Stone was wearing a hooded top which he had pulled up and was holding a knife in his hand.
He immediately approached the counter and thrust the knife towards Mr Kamini saying “Fahim give me the money.”
Initially the shopkeeper thought it was a joke and started laughing but when he put his hand out to touch the knife he realised it was real because he cut his hand on it.
Stone then thrust the knife at him again and started pressing buttons on the till to open it. The till began to fall but he was able to grab it and pull it back and managed to hit the right button.
He then grabbed some of the cash and left with £500. Miss Kaye said Mr Kamini had seen the defendant before in the area and was able to alert the police.
A seven-inch kitchen knife was subsequently found by a member of the public under his car which was believed to have been the weapon carried by Stone.
The police found Stone at an address in Carlton Road. At first he complied with their instructions but on the way to the police van he began to resist them and dropped to the ground refusing to get up shouting “don’t beat me up.”
Miss Kaye said he refused to walk to the van although he did eventually get up and go towards the vehicle where he head-butted the cage door causing an injury to his head. He was told to calm down and when he did not do so CS gas was used on him.
At the time Stone was under a community order imposed two months earlier by Kirklees Magistrates for possessing amphetamine sulphate with intent to supply.
Anastasis Tassou representing Stone said since his remand in custody his perspective and health had changed. At that time he was taking substances and was emotionally vulnerable.
Stone, 23 of Wharton Terrace, Heckmondwike admitted robbery, having an offensive weapon and breaching the community order.
Jailing him Judge Jacqueline Davies said once he realised the robbery was real “This was a terrifying experience for this man.”
