A brave shop assistant fought off a knife-wielding thug who tried to rob him.
Reece Hamilton eventually gave up the struggle and ran off empty-handed, Hamilton Sheriff Court was told.
The raid happened at a Spar in Merry Street, Motherwell, on March 12.
Hamilton, 26, who lives in the same street, admitted assault with intent to rob and possession of a blade.
Neil Thomson, prosecuting, said the employee was behind the counter when the accused arrived about 9.45am.
He was holding a knife and kept demanding that he get “all the money out”.
Mr Thomson told the court: “The employee feared for his safety and grabbed the accused in an effort to free the knife from his grip.
“A struggle ensued whereby the employee sustained a small cut to his hand from the blade.
“Despite repeated demands, he refused to open the till.
“This provoked the accused into shouting and swearing. He then pushed the till off the counter, turned around and ran out of the shop, still with the knife.
“The incident was captured on CCTV and police identified the accused.”
Hamilton also admitted separate charges including obstructing a drugs search and careless driving that involved him crashing a motorbike into a police vehicle.
Hamilton has two previous convictions for carrying a knife. He was on a community payback order at the time of the latest offences.
Sheriff Ray Small called for a criminal justice social work report but warned the accused jail was inevitable.
Sentence was deferred until August 14 and he was remanded in custody.
