Ashley Charles Gillen, of Cornshell Fields - who has twenty-six previous criminal convictions - committed the offence at the Smyth Toy Store in the Strand Road area of Derry last December.

The court heard he was under the influence of alcohol when the offence took place on December 1 last - just one month after he'd been convicted of possessing an imitation firearm.

Judge Patrick Lynch Q.C. was told by a prosecution barrister that Gillen produced the knife when he was challenged by a member of staff in the store.

"No fear was induced in the staff member,” the barrister said. “He is a fairly robust man who just passed it off as one of those things that happens in life.

“He chased the defendant from the store and the defendant was later arrested by the police.”

Defence barrister Ciaran Mallon, instructed by Paddy McGurk solicitor, said Gillen had been released from prison last June after he'd served a seven months jail sentence.

"He has stopped offending because he is fed up with jail and since his release he has gone off the police radar in terms of re-offending,” he said. “It has to be accepted that the fortitude shown by the staff member was commendable but this is clearly a serious offence of knife crime. There is nothing outstanding against the defendant and, for someone who has a reasonably concentrated record, that is a good start", he said.

Passing sentence, Judge Lynch said Gillen had an appalling record.

"You threatened this man who was able to shrug it off. You are a big man going around threatening people with a knife. How would you like it if it was your mother or father being threatened by someone like you carrying a knife?

Final chance

"You are a public nuisance. You are getting a final chance and by that I mean you will certainly get no more chances and if you come before me again for any offence of which you are convicted, the starting point with be eighteen months in jail". he said.