A HOMELESS man who attempted to rob a Weymouth sandwich shop has been jailed.

Kevin Leonard Wood, 37, was sentenced to 14 months in prison after admitting an attempted late night raid on the Subway shop in St Thomas Street.

Teenage victim Tom Robson, who was working in the store at the time of the robbery, has welcomed the sentencing.

Carolyn Branford-Wood, prosecuting, told the court that on September 11 at 2.40am 19-year-old Mr Robson was working at the Subway shop with one other colleague when Wood entered.

She said: “Mr Robson asked how he could help to which he replied ‘open the till’.”

Miss Branford-Wood said Mr Robson initially thought Wood was joking, but when the defendant swore and repeated the demand he realised the threat was serious.

Mr Robson told Wood he had to go to the rear of the premises to access a key for the till.

Miss Branford-Wood said as Mr Robson left the main shop area he heard Wood arguing with and shouting at his colleague and at one stage he came round behind the counter.

Miss Branford-Wood said: “Mr Robson was unable to say exactly what was being said but basically it was a demand for money.”

While Mr Robson was at the back of the shop he used the Pubwatch radio to contact the town’s CCTV operators and report someone was trying to rob the shop.

Miss Branford-Wood said there were numerous customers in the shop at the time, including one who woman was so frightened by the incident she hid under a table.

Other customers confronted Wood and after around five minutes he left the store empty handed.

He was arrested outside moments later and Miss Branford-Wood said he told officers who arrived to arrest him: “I’ve just held the store up.”

At the hearing Wood also admitted the theft of a bottle of wine from the Londis store in Weymouth on September 5 and a public order offence for using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour at Weymouth Carnival on August 18.

Robert Grey, mitigating, said Wood had a long-standing alcohol problem and deeply regretted the attempted robbery, which he committed when he was drunk.

He said: “He came to his senses when he sobered up in the cells the next day. He felt so badly about what he had done that he self harmed and required 12 stitches in his left wrist.”

Mr Grey added: “He did not intend to cause anyone any harm.”

Judge Roger Jarvis sentenced Wood to a total of 14 months in prison for all of the offences.

* YOUNG victim Tom Robson has said he was ‘glad’ Kevin Wood had received a prison sentence and was now looking to put the ordeal behind him.

Mr Robson said it had been a frightening experience that had left its mark weeks after the incident but he was now coming to terms with it.

He said: “It did have an affect on me but I’m alright now.

“I’m now looking to move on and put it behind me.”

Mr Robson thanked the people at the store who intervened on the night and helped stop the situation get any worse, as well as the police who arrived swiftly to arrest Wood.