A MAN accused of stabbing a shop worker and stealing £600 from the till must now wait to see if he will have to face a retrial for robbery.

Michael Davies, 30, had admitted burglary, attem-pted burglary and taking without consent in relation to the incident at Shippy's general store in Padiham Road, Sabden, on May 31.

But he denied robbery and, after a two-day trial at Preston Crown Court, the jury was discharged after failing to reach a verdict on that charge.

Davies, of Derby Street, Clitheroe, will discover his fate on Friday, December 8 when the Crown Prose-cution Service will decide if a retrial should take place.

During the trial, the court heard that Davies had targeted' the business because it was staffed by a lone woman.

Prosecutors told the jury he stabbed Mrs Marjorie Bostock in the shoulder with a pen before pushing the 54-year-old grand-mother to the ground and grabbing cash from the shop till.

This was refuted by the defence, which claimed that Mrs Bostock had suffered her injuries to the shoulder, back and wrist by falling over in shock as she saw Davies taking money from the till.

Louise Whaites, prosecuting, said that at 9.15pm Davies had entered the shop and waited until he was the only customer before luring the shop worker away from her till by asking for help in locating crisps at the back of the shop.

Miss Whaites said that after helping him, Davies attacked when her back was turned.

She said: "This was a frightening and traumatic event.

"His victim is not physically strong and was an easy target.

"She was targeted because she was a lone female.

"He took his opportunity and went to the till, taking as much money as he could before fleeing the store."

Arthur Gibson QC, defending, told the court that it was an "opportunist theft" that had not involved any violence.

He explained the injuries by saying "Mrs Bostock was away from the till when she saw what he was doing.

"She was shocked, lost her balance and fell down."