Morecambe thug who held two knives to shopkeeper is given an extended jail term after judge finds him to be dangerous

David Foskett, 45, of Alexandra Road, Morecambe, was armed with two knives when he stole £484.34 of money, cigarettes and alcohol from the Supersaver store close to his home on March 29.

During the terrifying incident he held a knife to either side of an employee's ribs and calmly told her: " You're a woman, I don't want to hurt you but I will if I have to."

Prosecuting, Wayne Jackson said the shopkeeper was working on her own when Foskett entered at around 8.14pm, and asked her how much a bag of frozen peas were.

He added: " She put them back in the freezer, turned around and saw him holding two knives.

"He held one at either side of her ribs as if to suggest he was going to stab her. He told her to lock the door to the store. She indicated she was petrified and told him she didn't have keys and her boss was on the way back with keys as an attempt to stall.

"He remained calm and appeared to know what he wanted.

" She opened the till and stepped back. He took an orange bag from his jacket and filled it with the contents of the till.

" She noticed when he was emptying the till he had both knives in one hand. When he started to empty tobacco from the cupboard into the bag it seems he dropped a knife and didn't realise and she put her foot over it and covered it."

Her quick witted actions meant police were able to link him through DNA on the knife, and officers were also able to identify him from CCTV.

He was arrested on March 1 and an empty tobacco pouch and a bottle of Jack Daniels from the shop were discovered in his home.

Defending, Fraser Livesey accepted he was "heavily convicted" and that his most recent conviction was also a knifepoint robbery.

Judge Simon Medland QC ruled he was a dangerous offender and imposed an extended sentence.

He said: " You have a very, very poor record for serious criminal offending.

"It is greatly to be regretted that the sentences imposed have not had the effect of deterring you from offending of this nature.

"Nonetheless in your favour you pleaded guilty which was a bold plea in one sense because you knew the consequences of it."

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