Man ‘scarred for life’ after tackling knife-wielding robber

A SHOP worker will be scarred for life after trying to tackle a knife-wielding robber, a court heard.

Kwok Fong, 28, reacted when a masked man ran into Key Stores, Summerfield Terrace, Aberdeen, and brandished a large kitchen knife at him.

He managed to get the raider in a head lock but had to release his hold when the man slashed out at him, cutting him numerous times on the back and hand.

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Graham Elrick, 26, of no fixed address, was jailed for six years and eight months after pleading guilty to assaulting and robbing Mr Fong of cash and goods worth £440 on 21 October last year.

The High Court in Edinburgh was told that all of Mr Fong’s injuries were likely to result in permanent scarring.

The advocate-depute, Douglas Fairley, QC, said: “The incident terrified Mr Fong who has since had to leave his job in the store as he is afraid to work there alone and at night. He describes having difficulty sleeping and states that he wakes up in the middle of the night in a state of panic, thinking about the incident.”

The defence counsel, Ronnie Renucci, said Elrick had been under the influence of drink and drugs and had little memory of the offence. He was shocked at what he had done and deeply regretted his actions.

Lord Uist viewed closed circuit television footage of the robbery and said he was “appalled” by it. He described Elrick’s record of previous convictions as “wholly deplorable” and said he was “a career criminal.”

The judge added: “Your victim must have been terrified...it is quite intolerable that a shop assistant, working to serve the public, should be treated in this way.”

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