A YOUNG man who pulled a large kitchen knife on a petrol station attendant who was working alone has been sentenced to 30 months in custody. Darren King, who had not been in trouble before, was very drunk and probably hoping to get more alcohol or cash to

A YOUNG man who pulled a large kitchen knife on a petrol station attendant who was working alone has been sentenced to 30 months in custody.

Darren King, who had not been in trouble before, was very drunk and probably hoping to get more alcohol or cash to buy alcohol, Luton Crown Court was told.

With him in the early hours of July 8, 2005 was Callum "Pip" Kendrick, now 20, who will be sentenced later.

King, also 20, of Meadow Way, Stevenage, pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, criminal damage and a breach of bail. He has been in custody over a year waiting to be sentenced.

The reason for the delay was that Kendrick, of Lawrence Avenue, Stevenage, pleaded not guilty to attempted robbery and his trial had to be held first. He was convicted by a jury last month.

Harry Bowyer, prosecuting last week, said Irmanatuan Sivasuankar was working alone at the Esso garage in Broadwater Crescent, Stevenage, when the two men came into the shop at 4am.

They loitered around for quite some time and he asked them to go if they were not going to buy anything.

"They went up to the counter and King asked for a free lighter. That was refused and King produced a large knife from the front of his trousers and told the cashier to open the till and take out all the money," said Mr Bowyer.

"He pressed the panic button which locked the doors, but King kicked the glass in the door and they fled."

They were arrested a month later. King made admissions but Kendrick denied being involved.

He later told the jury that he was too drunk to be capable of knowing what was going on.

Jonathan Taylor, defending King, said: "He does not know why he took the knife. He has no recollection of putting such a large knife down his trousers.

"He was in a drunken stupor and thinks their idea was to steal alcohol.

"He has been very productive in custody taking courses and gaining qualifications."

Judge Jeffrey Burke QC told King: "When you produced that knife Mr Sivasuankar acted with great courage in pressing the panic button and locking the doors. To your credit you did not resort to violence at that stage but turned and ran.

"You were young men of good character at the time and why you suddenly decided to carry out this serious crime is impossible to say.