A YOUNG man who tried to stage a robbery at a Morecambe shop was thwarted by a part-time assistant.

Andrew McCarroll told the woman on duty "Get that till open." But he fled the premises after being told there was a camera on site and he would be filmed.

The 21-year-old of Clarendon Road, Morecambe, was given six months prison. A judge passing sentence at Preston Crown Court said the shop worker had shown remarkable courage in pushing the defendant away.

He had pleaded guilty to an attempted robbery and also admitted an affray charge.

Mr Jacob Dyer, prosecuting, said it was July 1998 when McCarroll entered a newsagents shop on Poulton Road, Morecambe.

He enquired about a computer magazine and was handed a copy. At a point when the shop was empty he walked towards the part-time assistant and told her in a quiet and clear voice "Get that till open."

The woman grabbed his arms and pushed him towards the door. She said to the defendant "There's a camera and you will be on it. You had better get out of here."

McCarroll ran off. He was traced as his fingerprints were found on the computer magazine.

The affray took place in April this year at his mother's address.

Defence barrister Mr Keith Thomas said the attempted robbery was not pre-meditated and he had not been aggressive.

"As a result of the woman's bravery he panicked and ran off."

"The idea for the offence had arisen on the spur-of-the-moment. He saw the woman change a high value note."