A DRUG crazed knifeman who was forced to flee empty handed by a brave shopkeeper after trying to rob the village ‘Spar’ has been locked up for 40 months.
Patrick Drake, 20, from Old Bulwark Road, Chepstow was high on cocaine when he burst into Portskewett’s Premier Stores wearing a hood and a scarf across his face and threatened to stab the owner.
But Cardiff Crown Court heard how Sandeep Singh fought back by bombarding him with an electric heater and other items, forcing him to run for it.
Armed police arrested Drake (pictured right) minutes later after he admitted his crime in the nearby Measure Inn pub.
The court heard Drake pointed the knife at Mr Singh’s face and threatened him: ‘Open the till or I will stab you.’
In the pub after fleeing, Drake admitted his crime and said he felt like he was going to knife the shopowner.
Drake admitted attempted robbery and carrying a bladed article on December 19, 2019.
The court heard it was the second time in three years that he had attempted a knife robbery, having threatened a person with a penknife at a Newport cashpoint in 2016
A victim impact statement read out from Mr Singh said: “Portskewett is a small, friendly community and everyone has been shocked by what happened.
“The people here are very friendly and have been very supportive towards me. They really are beautiful people.
“I feel very sad for the young man because he has ruined his life.”
After being arrested, Drake told police: “I wasn’t getting the help I needed with my mental health and the bailiffs were at my house. I needed money.”
James Evans, defending, described him as “a very disadvantaged” young man who had shown some remorse.
Sentencing Drake, Recorder Duncan Bould said: “Mr Singh is a brave man and he is made of sterner stuff than you and he wasn’t going to open his till and give you his money.
“He began to throw items at you and was shouting for the police to be called.
“That degree of bravery easily overwhelmed you. You approached his shop thinking he was a soft target.”
As well as being put behind bars, Drake must pay a £181 victim surcharge.