I know that robber - he’s a loyalty card holder

Nathan Hirst, 24, spent the day downing pints before going into Frank Bird’s designer menswear store in Wakefield and threatening a 64-year-old shop assistant.

Leeds Crown Court heard the assistant was cashing-up the till around 5.30pm on December 10 last year when Hirst walked in and asked to try on some jeans. He returned with three pairs of jeans and Hirst told him he was going to take them without paying.

Hirst then told the assistant that he had two options - either to let him leave with two bags full of clothes or give him cash from the till.

Hirst told the shop assistant he “wouldn’t be going home” unless he accepted his demands.

The shop’s general manager then arrived and Hirst demanded “protection money” to prevent the shop from “being targeted by Romanians”.

Hirst then left empty handed. The court heard Hirst was slurring his words and appeared to be under the influence of drink or drugs at the time.

Hirst, of Guys Croft, Wakefield, was arrested after he was recognised as being a loyalty card customer. He told officers he had been drinking since 9am that day. He said he could remember being in the Strafford Arms pub across the road from the city centre store shortly before the incidnet

He said he could recall having an argument in the shop but little else. He pleaded guilty to attempted robbery.

The court heard Hirst worked long hours and suffered from bouts of depression. He was given a 15-month sentence, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 200 hours unpaid work.

Judge Rodney Jameson QC said: “You are good deal sorrier for yourself than you have a right to be.

“You have got job, which is a lot more than many people have. You seem to have got yourself into a state for reasons that are not entirely clear.

“On this occasion you have acted in the most bizarre fashion.”