A UK-based Zimbabwean man, Munashe Chikomba (23), has been handed a 30-month sentence after pleading guilty to attempted robbery.
Chikomba, of Cardigan Road, Headingley, Leeds, raided Summerbridge Stores in Summerbridge near Harrogate, on March 27, for money to pay off his £1 000 debts.
Chikomba appeared before the York Crown Court facing two charges of having knives in public and one of having a hammer as an offensive weapon.
Jeremy Barton, prosecuting, said the police found a third weapon and a balaclava in Chikomba’s vehicle when they stopped him later.
When the robber showed the hammer and knife to the family store owner in a small North Yorkshire village, the shopkeeper first tried to treat it as a joke and then rang the police.
Chikomba told him not to calls the cops before fleeing empty-handed.
Defence barrister Khadim Al’Hassan said Chikomba had gone for a drive to “clear his mind” because he had mental health problems and decided to do something to clear his £1 000 debts.
Al-Hassan said Chikomba, who had no previous convictions, had behaved completely out of character.
He had been kidnapped as a child in Zimbabwe before following his parents to Britain.
He said Chikomba was very remorseful for his actions.
WhatsApp Group: 
Telegram Group:
Back to top