A man who held up a shop manager at knife point and stole $150 was yesterday jailed for more than three years.

The Supreme Court heard that Kevin Robinson entered Belvin’s Variety Store in Smith’s at around 11.20am on May 21 and demanded cash at knifepoint.

Robinson, 60, jumped over the counter and held the knife to the employee’s neck when he failed to open the till and hand over the money. Robinson told the terrified man several times: “Open it or I will hurt you.”

The assistant manager opened the register and Robinson snatched $150 before he fled.

Robinson earlier admitted charges of robbery and possession of a three-inch pocket knife.

Puisne Judge Charles-Etta Simmons heard Robinson, of Hamilton Parish, was identified from security camera footage in the store.

She said an “unwitting accomplice”, who gave Robinson a ride to and from the store, came forward after he heard about the robbery.

Mrs Justice Simmons told the court that robbery was a serious offence, but that Robinson deserved a discount on his sentence for an early guilty plea and his apologies in the court.

She sentenced Robinson to three years and three months for the robbery and two years for the possession of the knife.

The sentences will run concurrently.

The judge also ordered that Robinson should serve two years of probation after his release and that he should pay $150 in restitution to Belvin’s.

The offence was not Robinson’s first.

He admitted the theft of $360 of sports shirts in February last year from Sports Cellar in Hamilton.

Robinson also pleaded guilty to stealing $772 worth of cigarettes from several stores in 2013.

He told the court in both cases that he was addicted to heroin and asked for help to receive treatment.

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