A man walked into a County Durham shop and began "snatching" clothing from a rail before telling staff, "I can take what I like".
Kevin Aldworth, who had been taking drugs, walked into the Original Factory Shop in Shildon on March 12 and began casually taking clothing from the clothes rails. When a staff member confronted him, he terrified them by claiming to have a knife - which he didn't - but was eventually removed from the store and made off empty handed.
Aldworth, 39, of Kimberley Street, Eldon Lane, County Durham, appeared at Durham Crown Court on Thursday to be sentenced for attempted robbery. He pleaded guilty to the charge at a previous hearing.
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Adam Keenaghan, prosecuting, said Aldworth walked into the Church Street shop and began removing clothing from rails. He said: "A staff member approached him and he said, 'I can take what I like'. There were then attempts to stop the defendant from leaving after he removed the clothing but he exclaimed, 'I've got a knife'. He was forced to drop the stock he had taken from the shelves and was put out of the shop."
Aldworth, who had 52 previous convictions for 104 offences, most of which for dishonesty, was arrested soon after in the area. The court heard that Aldworth was not in possession of a knife - Mr Keenaghan said there was a threat of violence with a weapon but nothing was produced. He added Aldworth was "under the influence of drugs at the time of offending".
Stephen Hamill, defending, said: "This is an attempt, there was clearly little or no planning. He simply snatches clothing from rails and makes threats. He has genuine remorse for his actions and he tells me this is not who he is, this is who he is when he takes drugs."
Sentencing Aldworth, Judge James Adkin, the Recorder of Durham, said it was a "brazen attempt" committed while he was "intoxicated". The judge jailed him for three years.
